Gout is a disease mainly of the joints. It often occurs suddenly. Nearly 840 out of every 100,000 people have gout. It is caused by the accumulation of crystals of uric acid around joints. Uric acid is produced by the breakdown of purines and is a normal chemical in the blood. Purines are a natural compound that contain nitrogen and are important in the formation of DNA. However when the levels of uric acid go above a certain amount they form painful sharp crystals, which irritate the joint lining and cause swelling and pain, also known as inflammation. To imagine it in a simplified manner think about salt dissolving in water- after continuously adding salt to the water at one point it cannot dissolve any more. Inflammation involves the activation of the body's immune system and movement of cells from the blood to the area that is irritated. There are many causes for gout and some foods can make gout worse. Common causes include being male, overweight, drinking too much alcohol for example. Some medications can also cause gout. There are some rare genetic diseases that can affect the breakdown of uric acid and cause levels to accumulate. There is treatment fortunately and many types of medications can help patients suffering from gout. There are some general side effects that can occur including gastrointestinal or stomach upset. Gout presents often with pain in the great toe and there are some simple measures like taking some over the counter medicines and avoiding further injury that can help. Gout can last for many days without treatment but often improves on its own. If not treated though it can cause permanent damage and also cause more frequent attacks which can be more painful as they recur. This article should help a person with gout understand what questions to keep in mind when visiting their healthcare provider. |
