What Causes Gout
Few diseases are as painful as gout. This rheumatic disease can see its sufferers double up in pain with their joints all swollen up, reddening and heating up as the inflammation vents its fury. It used to be called the ‘royal disease’ because in olden times, apparently only kings and nobles suffered from it. That was largely because it was only they who could afford to eat meats and other high-protein foods.
The metabolism of protein or the synthesis of protein-related substances (called purines) in your tissues produces a waste product, uric acid. It is circulated in the blood en route to the kidneys where it is filtered out and disposed. Too much uric acid will result in high levels of uric acid in the blood.
The body cannot tolerate uric acid in the blood, but the kidneys just cannot cope with the overload. So the body removes the uric acid from the blood by causing it to crystallise and depositing the crystals somewhere else, usually in connective tissue and joints. Once the uric acid crystal deposits in the joints reach excessive levels, hyperuricemia sets in, which could lead to gout.
You may be wondering what risk factors lead to the development of gout. There are quite a number of them:
- Genetics is a significant influence, since body metabolism is largely determined genetically. Up to 18 percent of those who suffer from gout have it in their family history.
- Age and gender are also important risk factors. Gout affects mostly adults and rarely occurs in children. It also is more common in men, especially those aged 40 and above, than women, especially those before the age of menopause.
- Body weight is a key indicator. Those who are overweight have much tissue that when broken down produces a lot of uric acid. Overweight people thus tend to develop hyperuricemia which can (but not always will) lead to gout.
- Excessive alcohol consumption increases uric acid levels in the blood since alcohol disrupts the disposal of uric acid from the body.
- Consumption of too many foods containing protein and purines can lead to gout, or aggravate an existing condition.
There are some diseases for which the medicines that are prescribed may, as their side effect, dampen the body’s ability to dispose of uric acid: These include:
- Diuretics, which are medications prescribed to help dispose of excess body fluids resulting from certain diseases like hypertension, edema, and other cardiovascular diseases.
- Salicylates, usually found in anti-inflammatory medicines that are based on salicylic acid.
- Cyclosporine, which may be prescribed in cases where it is necessary to suppress the body’s immune system, as in those who have organ transplants.
- Levodopa, which is used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
The important thing to realise is that weight and protein intakes play large roles in development of gout. Even if you have a family history of gout, you can minimise the probabilities by regulating your lifestyle to exclude the other risk factors for gout.
Gout Treatment
If you have a gout attack, many doctors recommend oral doses of ibuprofen or naproxen, available in both prescription and nonprescription versions, or other anti-inflammatory drugs. If you are taking aspirin, your doctor may recommend that you stop it temporarily. Aspirin can slow the elimination of uric acid and make gout worse. But if you take a low dose of aspirin to prevent other problems such as a heart attack, check with your doctor before stopping it.
For reliable Gout treatment information, read Cure Gout Now; an easy to follow, comprehensively researched eBook by Lisa McDowell that shows you how to change your diet and gain control of your gout wth useful strategies that have been proven to improve health for people with gout.
Find out how Lisa, a long-suffering wife of a gout victim, challenged the uncaring drug companies and made a shocking discovery that cured her husband once and for all.
