Gout is a very common and well-understood condition. Understanding gout signs, gout symptoms and gout treatment are all down to having an increased level of uric acid in the bloodstream. Those who are diagnosed with gout will have uric acid crystals in their blood, and these are then deposited in the joints’ articular cartilage. They may also be deposited in the tendons and joints, as well as in other tissues.
Gout Signs, Symptoms and Treatments:
When people have gout, they often experience quite sudden and acute attacks of incredibly painful arthritis in the joints. This is caused by the urates crystallizing in and around the joints. Eventually, this can lead to more chronic situations, including gouty arthritis. Sometimes, urates are deposited not just in the body’s joints, but also in other parts, which makes it even more painful.
It is very common for people with gout to experience burning, excruciating, sudden pain in the joint that is affected. The joint will often also feel stiff and warm, it will swell up and it will look red. It is very common for it to occur firstly in the toes, but it can happen in many other parts of the body as well. Gout is more common in men, although it can happen in women as well. Sometimes, during an attack of gout, those affected also have a fever. Typical of gout is the pain comes from two different sources. Firstly, there is the pain from the crystals themselves, found in the joint, which cause pain whenever there is movement in the area. Secondly, there is the pain caused by the inflammation of the tissue, which can be so painful that people can’t even stand to have it touched.
Gout signs, symptoms and treatments vary depending on what is causing the high levels of uric acid. For instance, the patient may have eaten something that contains a lot of purine, which is known to cause gout. Foods high in purine include crabs, lobsters, and certain organ foods. Similarly, people who consume a lot of grain alcohol are more likely to have gout. Mainly, treatment will be designed to provide relief from the acute problem, and also to help prevent any future attacks.
Indeed, your physician will look at ways to reduce the levels of serum uric acid, which is uric acid in the blood. To do this, a number of options are available, including:
- Taking medication that stops purine from being converted into uric acid
- Taking diuretic medication to rid the body of purines through urine and feces more regularly
- Taking anti-inflammatory and painkilling medication
- Making lifestyle changes such as no longer eating high purine foods and drinking less grain alcohol such as beer and vodka
Unfortunately, gout often becomes a chronic condition with regular flareups. People sometimes wake up in extreme pain because the sheet touched one of their toes, for instance. If it does become a more frequent condition, it is even more important to take action to prevent further attacks.