Anyone can get gout, but it is usually seen in men over 40 who have a family history of the condition. Women become more susceptible to gout after menopause. Some people experience only one, isolated gout attack and never get it again, while others suffer regularly. Healthy lifestyle choices can help reduce the risk of gout.
What is Gouty Arthritis?
Gout, also known as gouty arthritis, is as the name suggests, a form of arthritis. Gout symptoms develop rapidly and unexpectedly and include excruciating pain, heat, redness and inflammation in a joint. Gout often affects the joint in the base of the big toe, but other joints can be affected, including elbows, wrists, fingers, knees, ankles and feet.
Gout can be so painful that covering the affected joint with light clothing or even the movement of air around the joint is intolerable. Pain is usually most intense 12 to 24 hours after the onset of symptoms, but symptoms may linger for days or weeks after a gout attack. Successive gout attacks tend to last longer and affect more parts of the body.
Recurring gout can lead to the appearance of nodules under the skin known as tophi. Tophi are clusters of urate crystals which usually occur in the big toe, elbows or fingers, but they do not generally cause pain.
What Causes Gout?
Gouty arthritis is caused by the body's overproduction or insufficient excretion of uric acid, leading to the accumulation of uric acid in the body's tissues. (Uric acid is produced during the breakdown of purines, which are natural substances found in the body.) Needle-like urate crystals become deposited in the joints causing pain and inflammation.
Although gout is more likely if there is a family history of gout, there are a number of other causal factors. Excessive alcohol consumption, high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, infection, stress, surgery and some medications such as diuretics and aspirin may promote an attack of gout.
Eating foods high in purines can lead to gouty arthritis. Such foods include beef, organ meats, goose, anchovies, herring, mackerel, mussels and yeast. Other meats, poultry, fish and shellfish also contain purines, along with beans, lentils, dried peas, spinach, asparagus and mushrooms.
Suspected gout should be investigated by a doctor. Gout increases the risk of kidney stones, kidney disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and high triglycerides. Untreated, multiple attacks of gout can lead to joint damage. Gout is often treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which help to control pain and inflammation.
For further information, readers may find the article Symptoms and Treatment of Gout useful.
Resources:
Mayo Clinic. "Gout" (Accessed 11th January 2011).
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. "Gout" (Accessed 11th January 2011).
University of Maryland Medical Center. "Gout" (Accessed 11th January 2011).
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Sharon Kirby - Sharon is a freelance health writer and contributes to various print and online publications. Writing credits include Nursing Times, Good ...
