What is Gout?

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that causes pain and swelling in your joints. Gout happens when there’s a buildup of uric acid in your body. When your body has extra uric acid, sharp crystals can form in your joints (usually your big toe). Gout most commonly affects your big toe joint. But it can affect other joints, including your:

• Knees.
• Ankles.
• Feet.
• Hands and wrists.
• Elbows.

What is the Symptoms of Gout?

Gout attacks are very painful and can happen suddenly, often overnight. During a gout attack, symptoms in your affected joints may include:

• Intense joint pain
• Lingering discomfort
• Inflammation and redness
• Limited range of motion
• Discoloration or redness.
• Stiffness.
• Swelling.
• Tenderness, even to a light touch (like a bedsheet covering your affected joint).
• Warmth, or a feeling like the joint is “on fire.”

What is the Causes of Gout?

Gout occurs when urate crystals accumulate in your joint, causing the inflammation and intense pain of a gout attack.

High level of uric acid in blood increases the risk of GOUT. Medical conditions like Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Kidney Disease, High level of fat and cholesterol in blood, Obesity, Psoriasis, Osteoarthritis.

Food habits that increase uric acid.

Drinking a lot of beer and spirits.

What is the risk factors of GOUT?

Gout affects mostly men, starting in from 30years and increases with age. It is less common in women until they reach menopause. Gout is often associated with various other medical conditions such as kidney disease, high blood pressure, obesity and heart disease. Often, patients have family members affected by Gout. Consuming foods rich in meat, seafood and alcohol predisposes a person to Gout.

Medical and lifestyle risk factors

Obesity: Being overweight increases the risk of developing gout.

Medical conditions: Conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney or heart disease increase risk.

Certain medications: Diuretics, low-dose aspirin, and some blood pressure medications can raise uric acid levels.

Alcohol consumption: Particularly beer, which is high in purines.

Diet: A diet high in purine-rich foods, like red meat, organ meats, and some seafood, can increase risk.

What is the prevention of GOUT?

• Lifestyle change like
• Losing Weight
• Changing the Diet
• Taking Medication to lower Uric Acid level.
• Stay hydrated

Stay hydrated

One of the most important things you can do to prevent gout flare-ups is to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water helps to flush out excess uric acid from the body, reducing the likelihood of crystal formation. Drinking at least eight glasses of water daily is recommended.

Follow a healthy diet

Eating a healthy and balanced diet prevents gout flare-ups. Foods high in purine, such as red meat, organ meats, and seafood, can increase uric acid levels in the body. On the other hand, foods with low purine content, such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, can help to keep uric acid levels in check.

Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of gout and flare-ups. Excess weight can put extra pressure on your joints, leading to inflammation and pain. Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the strain on your joints and decrease the frequency and severity of gout flare-ups. Aim for a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 24.9, and if you need to lose weight, do so gradually and in a healthy way through a combination of diet and exercise.

Avoid trigger foods

While high-purine foods are common gout triggers, certain foods and beverages may trigger flare-ups in some individuals. These include foods with high levels of fructose, such as soft drinks and fruit juices, and foods with high levels of yeast, such as beer and baked goods. Pay attention to your body and avoid foods or beverages that worsen your gout symptoms.

Avoid alcohol consumption

Alcohol can increase uric acid levels in the body and trigger gout flare-ups. If you have gout, it is best to limit your alcohol intake or avoid it altogether. If you choose to drink, opt for low-purine options like wine or light beer, and always stay hydrated by drinking water between alcoholic beverages.

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise is beneficial for overall health and can help prevent gout flare-ups. It helps to maintain a healthy weight, improve joint mobility, and reduce inflammation. Low-impact exercises, such as swimming, biking, and walking, are great options for people with gout, as they put less strain on the joints.

What is the Diagnosis of Gout?

Doctors usually diagnose gout based on your symptoms and the appearance of the affected joint. Tests to help diagnose gout may include:

Joint fluid test:-Your doctor may use a needle to draw fluid from your affected joint. Urate crystals may be visible when the fluid is examined under a microscope.

Blood test:-Your doctor may recommend a blood test to measure the levels of uric acid in your blood.

X-ray imaging:- Joint X-rays can be helpful to rule out other causes of joint inflammation.

Ultrasound:-This test uses sound waves to detect urate crystals in joints or in tophi.

Dual-energy computerized tomography (DECT):-This test combines X-ray images taken from many different angles to visualize urate crystals in joints.

What is treatment of Gout?

Treatment for gout focuses on:

Relieving pain during acute attacks (attacks that come on suddenly and do not last a long time)

Preventing future gout attacks

Reducing the risk of developing tophi and permanent joint damage.

Acute treatment

NSAIDS:- Caution in renal insufficiency and peptic ulcer disease

Colchicine:- Diarrhea, bone marrow suppression.

Steroids:- Oral, IV or intraarticular injection.