1. Prevent Recurrence
The best way to manage chronic gout is to find ways to alleviate symptoms and to make the day-to-day living with the disease as manageable as possible. Simple home remedies such as ice packs applied on swollen joints or taking anti-inflammatories can also help manage the pain of chronic gout. People with chronic gout sometimes have acute attacks, in which case ice can help alleviate inflammation, especially if used along with prescription drugs.
2. Change Your Diet
Since diet has such an important influence in the amount of uric acid in the blood, changing the way you eat can help you manage chronic gout more than anything else you can do. For starters, make sure that you reduce the intake of saturated fats, especially in the form of red and organ meats, shellfish and seafood in general. Also, make sure you eat enough fiber--present in whole grains, fruits and vegetables--to help you improve your digestion and food processing.
3. Stay Hydrated
Keeping your body hydrated can help you flush excess uric acid and reduce the chances of it accumulating in your joints. Aside from drinking lots of water, you can also increase hydration by consuming fruits and vegetables rich in water and by decreasing your intake of salt. Alcohol and coffee can act as diuretics, so they should be kept to a minimum in order to prevent dehydration.
4. Lose Weight
Keeping your weight down will actually lower the symptoms of chronic gout and will make it easier to control pain and swelling. Regular exercise will help you control your weight and will also help flush toxins from your body and keep your blood flowing. Since chronic gout is similar to arthritis when it comes to level of pain and frequency of attacks, exercising on a daily basis can help loosen the joints and strengthen the muscles, which in turn will reduce the pressure on the joints.
