Gout is a form of arthritis, affecting mostly males. In the book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," gout is defined as a "sudden onset of extreme pain and swelling of a large joint, usually a big toe." The typical onset age is 40. According to the text, gout forms when there's an excess of uric acid in the blood. This is called hyperuricemia. This occurs because the body sometimes can't effectively metabolize uric acid, a byproduct of food.
Diagnosis
Goat can be diagnosed by a doctor. Blood tests measure the level of uric acid in the blood. A biopsy of fluid from the affected joint can be viewed under the microscope to look for the formation of crystals.
Risk Factors
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are many factors that increase the level of uric acid in the blood and therefore the possibility of gout. They are: excessive alcohol consumption, diabetes, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), certain diuretics, family history, age and sex. Women also can get gout, especially after they go through menopause. Obesity or being overweight are also risk factors.
Considerations
A healthy diet and lifestyle can reduce the risk factors of gout. According to gout.com, a healthy diet and foods low in purine may help. Purines are produced by the breakdown of foods. One example is uric acid.
Gout.com cites the following low-purine foods: coffee, cereals, chocolate, fruit, breads, grains, pasta, rice, olives, cheese, eggs, milk products, sugar, tomatoes and some types of green vegetables. Eating low-fat dairy products and drinking plenty of fluids also can help. There's speculation that eating cherries or drinking cherry juice can reduce the amount of uric acid in the body.
The website suggests limiting beef, pork, lamb, kidney, oatmeal, dried beans, lentils, spinach, asparagus, mushrooms and seafood, such as sardines, mussels, scallops, trout and haddock.
Warning
People with gout sometimes have kidney stones.
Prevention/Solution
The risk of getting gout can be lessened by maintaining a healthy weight, drinking fluids and keeping alcohol consumption low. Medications used to control gout include steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and medicines that block uric acid production, such as Zyloprim and Probenecid.
References
- Gout.com
- Mayo Clinic
- Prescription for Nutritional Healing; James F. Balch and Phyllis Balch; 1997
