The true source of this discomfort is a high amount of uric acid in your system. Normally the body rids…
The true source of this discomfort is a high amount of uric acid in your system. Normally the body rids itself of uric acid by excreting it in the urine, keeping blood levels low. If your eating foods that build a lot of uric acid in your body & not eating enough foods to neutralize or remove it. It’s very possible you will have muscle pain, joint pain, kidney stones, gout or kidney failure.
These high levels lead to gout — but not right away. In fact, uric acid levels are typically elevated for 20 to 30 years before they cause any trouble, which is why gout usually occurs in middle-aged and older men. But gout can also be triggered by a rapid drop in uric acid levels, which is why up to 30% of men with gout have normal uric acid levels at the time of an attack.
An attack of gout occurs when excess uric acid is deposited in a joint and forms urate crystals that irritate the joint lining. White blood cells try to gobble up the crystals, but they are not equal to the task. The white blood cells are themselves damaged, releasing chemicals that cause inflammation, swelling, and pain.
The most common manifestation of gout is acute arthritis, severe pain in a joint. In most cases, it strikes one joint at a time; in half, it’s the first joint in the large toe. Other frequent sites include the forefoot, instep, heel, ankle, and knee. At any site, the attack usually begins abruptly, often at night. Within hours, the joint becomes red, swollen, hot, and painful. And even though only one small joint is affected, the inflammation can be intense enough to cause fever, muscle aches, and other flu-like symptoms.
Without treatment, gout can also cause long-term arthritis, with chronic swelling and permanent joint damage.