The National Institutes of Health defines gout as a complex form of arthritis that causes sudden attacks of pain, redness and swelling of the joints. Gout occurs when urate crystals form around the joint. Men have a higher incidence of gout, but a woman's chances of getting the condition increase after menopause.
Risk Factors
According to the Mayo Clinic, many factors contribute to gouty arthritis. Gout is hereditary, so if a family member had gout you may be more susceptible. Drinking two or more alcoholic beverages a day can raise your risk of getting gout. High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and plaque buildup in the arteries can all increase the opportunity for gout, especially if they are untreated.
Symptoms
The most obvious symptom of gout is sudden and intense pain, usually occurring at night. Gout often affects the big toe, but can occur in the joints of the feet, ankles, hands and wrists. The pain will likely be the most intense during the first 12 to 24 four hours, but it is not uncommon to have joint discomfort for a few days or weeks following a gout attack.
Diagnosis
Gout is caused due to an excess of uric acid in the body, so a physician will run blood work to measure the amount of uric acid in the blood. A physician may also conduct a joint fluid test, aspirating a small amount of fluid from the afflicted joint to check for urate crystals under a microscope.
Treatment
The National Institutes of Health publication Medline Plus reports that there are currently many medications on the market for the treatment of gout. Nonsteroidal Ant-inflammatory Drugs, or NSAIDs, are commonly used to control the pain and inflammation of gout. If a patient is unable to take an NSAID, doctors will often prescribe a medication called Colchicine to help reduce the pain. Colchicine can have side effects such as nausea, diarrhea and vomiting so after the attack has subsided, doctors may prescribe a lower dosage. A uric acid blocker such as Zyloprim or Aloprim may be taken to attempt to decrease the uric acid and avoid an attack. While there are drugs that help to remove excess uric acid from the body by secreting it in urine, they may also increase the chances of kidney stones so are used less frequently.
Diet
In the past, patients with gouty arthritis were forced to endure severe dietary restrictions in order to avoid a potential flare-up. However, with the improvement of medications used to help avoid an attack, the diet is easier to stick to. The Mayo Clinic tells us that people with gout should attempt to stick with a low purine diet. Purine is found in red meat, fatty fish and seafood. These foods should only be eaten in moderation. It is also recommended that you drink six to eight glasses of fluids daily, preferably water, to help safely flush uric acid from the body.
