It's a painful, recurring disease that no one wants. During a flare-up, a joint (usually a big toe) stiffens, reddens, spikes a fever, swells, and HURTS. A form of inflammatory arthritis, gout is caused by too much uric acid, a normal waste product of the body. When uric acid levels are too high, or the kidneys are unable to eliminate enough of it, it gets deposited in the joints as tiny, needle-like crystals. The 3- to 10-day attacks are debilitating, and can result in permanent joint damage.

So how do you know if a visit from the Gout Fairy is in your future? There are definite risk factors, and the good news is that some of them are within your control.

You can't do anything about your gender (males are far more susceptible) or your age (it generally hits men between 40 and 50 years of age, women after menopause), or genetics (about 20% of gout sufferers have a family history of the disease).

Some medical conditions increase the likelihood of developing gout: diabetes, untreated high blood pressure, high blood levels of fat and cholesterol, and arteriosclerosis. Kidney problems, hypothyroidism, psoriasis, hemolytic anemia, and some cancers may also increase the risk. There's also a possibility of rare syndromes in which the body produces insufficient amounts of the enzyme responsible for regulating uric acid levels.

Use of certain medications may also make gout more likely to visit you: thiazide diuretics (often used to control high blood pressure), cyclosporine (used to treat some autoimmune diseases and to prevent rejection of transplanted organs), and some drugs used to treat Parkinson's Disease. Overuse of niacin, a B vitamin, can increase your risk, and even the use of a low-dose aspirin regimen may up the ante.

Other risk factors are things that you do have some control over, because they are lifestyle choices. First, of course, your weight. Being overweight or gaining more than 30 pounds during adulthood increases your chances of being visited by the Gout Fairy. But don't go on a crash diet; very low-calorie diets also put you at risk. Frequent dehydration is a risk factor, as is injuring a joint. Regular use of alcohol (especially beer) - even in moderation - can increase the chances of gout.

Some foods are naturally high in purine, a chemical found in minute amounts in the body . Excess levels of purine can cause increased levels of uric acid. But most experts agree that dietary changes have limited effect on body levels of uric acid. High-purine foods include such common items as dried beans and peas, mushrooms, gravy, asparagus, sardines and scallops, as well as beef kidneys, liver, game meats, anchovies, sardines, mackerel, herring, and sweetbreads.

How can you avoid gout? Like so many other diseases, eat well, stay fit, and limit your exposure to the risk factors whenever possible. You still may get it, but at least you won't invite it.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-gu ides/Gout-What-Increases-Your- Risk

http://www.mayoclinic.com/heal th/gout

http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/to pics/gout/gout.htm

http://www.gout.com

Learn more about this author, Gena Nelson.
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