In some circumstances, this condition can be treated with medicines and healthy lifestyle habits. However, do not administer any medicines without a doctor’s recommendation because it may worsen the gout.
Diseases caused by a buildup of uric acid are called gout. This condition usually negatively affects the feet. People who suffer from this condition often feel swelling and pain in the joints of their feet.
Symptoms
However, some people may have an increased level of uric acid in the blood but without symptoms. In such cases, it is called asymptomatic hyperuricemia.
In case you experience acute gout, the symptoms appear due to a buildup of the uric acid crystals in the joints. You will experience intense pain and swelling and your joint may feel warm. Usually, before gout attacks, people do not notice any symptoms. Not treating this condition can become chronic and you may develop hard lumps (tophi). Mostly, tophi causes permanent damage to your joints. That’s why it is advised to treat this condition as soon as possible.
Causes
Gout usually happens due to the breakdown of purines. However, different diseases including blood and metabolism disorders and dehydration can trigger increased uric acid production. Moreover, thyroid or kidney issues as well as inherited disorders can make it difficult to remove excess uric acid from blood. Check below who is more likely to develop gout:
- Middle age man
- Postmenopausal women
- Alcohol misuse
- Medicines (such as diuretics and cyclosporine)
- Health conditions (including hypertension, kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, and others)
- Family history of gout
Some people can experience gout due to an increased amount of foods that are high in gout-producing purines.
What foods should I avoid?
There are many foods high in purines. However, many people can tolerate these foods. If your body has difficulty removing excess uric acid, you should avoid the following foods and drinks. Examples include:
- Red and organ meats
- Alcohol
- Certain seafood
- Sugar-sweetened beverages
- Foods that contain sugar fructose
There are some foods that can help to decrease uric acid. Discuss with your healthcare professional about a healthy diet for you.
Diagnosis
Healthcare professionals will ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history. They also will perform a physical examination. If your physicians are not sure whether you have gout or not, they can also direct you to do some tests including X-rays. In addition, physicians can also order you to do a blood test to determine uric acid levels in the blood.
In mild cases of gout, you may visit a primary care doctor but if you have a severe form of this condition, you may need a joint disease specialist.
Gout Triggers
There are certain foods and medicines that can trigger gout symptoms. If you have gout, it is not recommended to consume the following drinks and foods. For example:
- Organ meats
- Red meats (such as veal and pork)
- Alcohol
- Sodas
- Fruit juice
- Seafood (such as cod, scallops, mussels, salmon, and others)
In addition, the following medications also can provoke symptoms. Check below some examples:
- Aspirin
- Diuretics (water pills)
- Blood pressure medicines (such as beta-blockers and angiotensin II receptor blockers)
Check below some health conditions that are linked with gout and can contribute to flare-ups:
- Obesity
- Diabetes or prediabetes
- Dehydration
- Infections
- Joint injuries
- Congestive heart failure
- Kidney disease
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Is it Possible to Prevent Gout?
The following steps can help you to prevent or avoid this health condition. Examples include:
- Limit or avoid alcoholic beverages
- Limit foods high in purines (including shellfish, lamb, beef, pork, organ meat, and others)
- Adopt a low-fat diet rich in vegetables
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Quit smoking or never begin
- Regular exercise
- Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration
Additionally, you should manage your existing health conditions because some of them can provoke gout.
Treatment
People who not treating this health condition may experience gouty arthritis which is a severe form of arthritis. It is a painful disease that leads to permanent damage to your joints. The treatment usually depends on the severity and stage of the gout a person experiences.
Commonly, the treatments work by reducing pain and inflammation or preventing future gout attacks by reducing levels of uric acid in the blood. Check below some medicines doctors usually prescribe in the treatment of gout:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen
- Colchicine (Colcrys and Mitigare)
- Corticosteroids
In addition, your doctor may prescribe you some additional medicines to prevent gout attacks. Examples include:
- Probenecid
- Xanthine oxidase inhibitors (such as Allopurinol and Febuxostat)
However, healthcare professionals usually recommend some lifestyle changes along with medications. Check some examples below:
- Quit smoking
- Get and maintain a healthy weight
- Limit or avoid alcoholic beverages
Gout Surgery
This treatment option usually is used rarely. Doctors may recommend surgery if you have hard deposits (tophi). These often build up on your joints and other parts of the body (such as the ear). Tophi are lumps that are painful and swollen and can cause permanent damage to the joints. There are three surgeries that help to treat tophi. For example:
- Tophi removal surgery
- Joint fusion surgery
- Joint replacement surgery
Physicians will prescribe one of the previous surgeries depending on your preferences, the tophi location, and the extent of the damage.
Home Remedies
Healthcare providers may suggest the following drinks and foods along with medicines to improve your gout. Check below some examples:
- Diluted apple cider vinegar
- Nettle tea
- Celery
- Dandelion
- Milk thistle seeds
- Ginger
- Magnesium
- Tart cherries
However, the previous foods and drinks cannot treat gout alone.
Gout Essential Oils
It is considered that certain oils have anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and antibacterial effects. Although essential oils are mostly used in aromatherapy, some of them can be used in gout treatment. Examples include:
- Chinese cinnamon
- Olive leaf extract
- Yarrow oil extract
- Celery seed oil
- Lemongrass oil
In any case, you should consult with your doctor before using any essential oil for your gout. It is advised also to research the brand of essential oils because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the quality of the oils.
Additionally, you should consider the following precautions when using essential oils. For example:
- Do not put the oils in the mouth.
- You should dilute the oils and avoid getting them directly on the skin.
- Store either essential or carrier oils in cool and dry places away from direct sunlight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gout hereditary?
This condition is partly caused by heredity. As per studies, genes (SLC2A9 and ABCG2) make people more likely to develop this health condition. However, poor diet and other environmental factors also can provoke this disease.
What is the main cause of gout?
This condition is provoked by a disease called hyperuricemia. When there is too much uric acid in the blood, this condition occurs. Therefore, the body breaks down the purines and produces uric acid. Gout happens when an individual has increased levels of uric acid in the blood and it builds up in the joints. Consult with your doctor for more details.
What are foods and drinks that can worsen gout?
The following foods and drinks should be avoided if you have gout. Examples include:
- Alcohol
- Sweetened drinks (including sodas and fruit juices)
- Red meat and seafood (these foods are rich in purines)
If you have any other questions, ask your healthcare provider.
