by Cicely Richard

Created on: October 17, 2008   Last Updated: July 27, 2009

Gout is a hard condition to define because of how the disease affects particular parts of the body. According to an on-line medical encyclopedia, it is actually a form of arthritis because it attacks particular joints in the body. It occurs when there is a buildup of uric acid in the blood. While many people with uric acid buildup may not experience any gout symptoms, others start suffering from gout when the acid forms hard crystals in the joints. The characteristics of gout include sudden, sharp pains, tenderness and redness of the joints.

Gout can affect people of any age and any gender. Men often suffer from gout more than younger women. However, menopausal women are also more susceptible to this disorder. Individuals increase their chances of getting gout if they are overweight, overindulge in alcoholic beverages, and eat too many foods high in purines like cured meats, fish like sardines, organ meat, game, bacon, legumes, beans, and gravy. It also affects people who take certain medications, such as diuretics.

The pain and swelling associated with gout often appears in the big toe and the pain is generally worse at night. However, it can attack the entire foot, the ankle or the knees. The pain lasts as little as a few days to as much as a number of weeks of intense pain. Sometimes, the pain is so bad that a person may have to use a cane temporarily in order to get around. The pain may go away on its own, and some sufferers may go months or years without gout. Even if the pain goes away, though, a doctor's help can be a valuable tool for gout sufferers.

Doctors have a number of ways to diagnose and treat gout sufferers. During an initial examination by physicians, they will ask a number of questions about where the pain is localized and likely check for tenderness. Once the preliminary exam is conducted, they will take a blood sample to check for the presence of uric acid crystals in the joints and in the blood.

After doctors test blood samples, they will prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to help ease the pain and may suggest rest for the aching joints. Gout sufferers should avoid taking aspirin because that can worsen gout and raise uric acid levels. Most people experience pain relief within 24 hours of treatment.

In addition to prescription drugs, doctors will likely tell individuals with gout to modify their diets. Because gout can result from certain foods, they may suggest avoiding certain meats and limiting alcohol consumption. A healthy diet is a proactive way to limit the chances of getting gout again. Fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy are low-purine foods that will reduce the recurrence of gout. A residual effect of eating well is weight loss for those who are overweight.

Like any disorder, being proactive about your health is the number one tool to prevent or even alleviate the pain associated with gout. A few modifications can be the difference between horrific pain and relief from this unique condition.

Source:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gout.html

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