Gout is a condition known to cause sharp and severe pain through the joints and limbs. According to an article on gout by the Mayo Clinic, anyone can be affected by it. Gout is more likely to affect men; however, after menopause, women become far more susceptible to developing the condition. Gout can be caused by excessive buildup of uric acid, eating too many foods rich in purines and kidney problems or disease.
Uric Acid Buildup
When uric acid builds up in your system, it can form sharp, tiny crystals in and around your joints that can cause extreme discomfort. According to the Mayo Clinic, uric acid normally travels through your kidneys and into your urine after it dissolves in the bloodstream. Sometimes, your body produces too much uric acid or it cannot process it fast enough. This causes dangerous levels of uric acid that eventually turn into crystals and overwhelm the joints. The National Institutes of Health reports that gout attacks can occur more often and last longer over time if not treated; kidney damage also can occur. Gout can be treated successfully with medicines.
Too Many Purines
When your body breaks down purines, the byproduct is uric acid. Foods such as animal kidneys and livers, dried beans, asparagus, mushrooms and anchovies are rich in purines. If you eat too many of these foods and have an underlying condition that makes it difficult for your body to handle the high intake, uric acid can build up and cause gout. According to the National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, hyperuricemia is the term used to describe the condition in which uric acid levels are abnormally high in the bloodstream. You will not always develop gout if you are diagnosed with hyperuricemia, but if excess uric crystals develop in the body, gout may occur.
Kidney Problems or Disease
Kidney disease or a similar condition can make you more likely to develop gout. Because the kidneys are directly responsible for the processing and removal of uric acid, any condition that undermines this mechanism can affect the levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. If this process is altered due to the presence of kidney problems or disease, uric acid will build up and gout may result. According to the Mayo Clinic, untreated high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, excess amounts of fat and cholesterol in the bloodstream and narrowing of the arteries can increase the chances of developing gout.
