Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs when uric acid accumulates in high levels in the body. When uric acid builds up in the fluid that surrounds a joint, uric acid crystals form in that area. These cause inflammation and pain. Gout can be treated with medications, and dietary changes seem to improve the symptoms for some people.
Symptoms
Gout is characterized by the sudden onset of pain and swelling in one or more joints. The symptoms often begin at night. The ankles, big toe and knee joints are the areas most often affected. The joint may appear red, tender and warm to the touch. Gout may cause severe pain, and may be accompanied by fever. Call your doctor if you suspect a gout attack. With treatment, most people experience relief of their symptoms in 12 to 48 hours.
Berries
Eating cherries has been linked to reduced levels of uric acid in the body. It is not yet known whether this decrease also prevents gout symptoms. Although the mechanism by which cherries reduce uric acid is not known, one possibility is that the vitamin C in the fruit is responsible. Indeed, a meta-analysis of clinical trial data has shown that vitamin C supplementation significantly reduces uric acid. According to Mayoclinic.com, other dark berries, such as blueberries, blackberries, purple grapes and raspberries, may behave similarly to decrease uric acid. Although there are no studies on the effectiveness of these fruits for gout treatment, you may eating more dark berries. Talk to your doctor before making any dietary changes.
Other Diet Changes
During a gout attack, you should avoid alcohol, but drink more other fluids. Aim for eight to 16 cups of fluid each day, with at least half of this in water. Eating less meat and high-fat foods may help you avoid recurring gout attacks. Low-fat dairy products, including nonfat milk and yogurt, improve uric acid levels in some patients.
Other Treatments
Gout is treated with prescription-strength, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen or indomethacin. Your doctor may recommend that you take these medications four to 10 days after the onset of symptoms. Colchicine is a medication that is used to treat inflammation and swelling. For severe pain, you may be prescribed pain relief medications such as codeine, hydrocodone or oxycodone. Another option for rapid relief of inflammation is a corticosteroid injection into the joint site. If you experience frequent episodes of gout or if you have a history of uric acid kidney stones, your doctor may prescribe daily allopurinol or probenecid to keep your uric acid levels low.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Gout
- PubMedHealth: Gout
- "Current Pharmaceutical Design", Dietary factors and hyperuricaemia by N. Schlesinger, 2005.
- "Arthritis Care and Research", Effect of oral vitamin C supplementation on serum uric acid: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by SP Juraschek, ER Miller, AC Gelber, 2011.
