Disease Insights: gout
Welcome to the ultimate guide on gout. Here, you'll find answers to the most common questions to help you or your loved ones understand and manage this condition better.
Description for gout
A type of arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints, leading to intense pain and swelling.
General Information on gout
Cause: Gout doesn’t only happen in the foot, but the most common place people experience it is in their big toe. It’s a form of arthritis that causes serious pain and swelling in a joint.
Cure: Medications (NSAIDs, colchicine, corticosteroids), lifestyle changes (diet, hydration), avoiding triggers.
Symptoms:
Symptoms of gout
heat in the affected joint, intense joint pain, limited range of motion, redness in joints, swelling
Precautions for gout
Avoid foods high in purines, Drink plenty of fluids, Take medications as prescribed, Limit alcohol consumption
Questions Covered:
- what is gout?
- What are the usual symptoms of gout?
- How do doctors usually treat gout?
- causes of gout?
- How do doctors usually figure out if someone has gout, diagnosis?
- What are the ways to prevent gout?
Answers:
Question: what is gout?
Gout can be treated and managed with medications and healthy lifestyle habits. Your doctor or nutritionist can help you develop the best treatment strategy for you.
Gout is a general term for a variety of conditions caused by a buildup of uric acid. This buildup usually affects the feet.
If you have gout, you'll probably feel swelling and pain in the joints of your foot, particularly your big toe. Sudden and intense pain, or gout attacks, can make it feel like your foot is on fire.
Question: What are the usual symptoms of gout?
Some people have too much uric acid in their blood but no symptoms. This is called asymptomatic hyperuricemia.
For acute gout, symptoms come on quickly from the buildup of uric acid crystals in your joint and last for 3 to 10 days.
You'll have intense pain and swelling, and your joint may feel warm. Between gout attacks, you won't have any symptoms.
If you don't treat gout, it can become chronic. Hard lumps called tophi can eventually develop in your joints and the skin and soft tissue surrounding them. These deposits can permanently damage your joints.
Prompt treatment is important to prevent gout from turning chronic.
Question: How do doctors usually treat gout?
If left untreated, gout can eventually lead to gouty arthritis, which is a more severe form of arthritis. This painful condition can leave your joint permanently damaged and swollen.
The treatment plan your doctor recommends will depend on the stage and severity of your gout.
Medications to treat gout work in one of two ways: They relieve pain and bring down inflammation, or they prevent future gout attacks by lowering uric acid levels.
Drugs to relieve gout pain include:
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin (Bufferin), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve)
colchicine (Colcrys, Mitigare)
corticosteroids
Drugs that prevent gout attacks include:
xanthine oxidase inhibitors, such as allopurinol (Lopurin, Zyloprim) and febuxostat (Uloric)
probenecid (Probalan)
Along with medications, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes to help manage your symptoms and reduce your risk of future gout attacks. For example, your doctor may encourage you to:
reduce your alcohol intake, if you drink
lose weight, if you're overweight
quit smoking, if you smoke
In addition a few complementary therapies have also shown promise.
Question: causes of gout?
The buildup of uric acid in your blood from the breakdown of purines causes gout.
Certain conditions, such as blood and metabolism disorders or dehydration, make your body produce too much uric acid.
A kidney or thyroid problem, or an inherited disorder, can make it harder for your body to remove excess uric acid.
You're more likely to get gout if you:
are a middle-aged man or postmenopausal woman
have parents, siblings, or other family members with gout
drink alcohol
take medications such as diuretics and cyclosporine
have a condition like high blood pressure, kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, or sleep apnea
For some people, gout is caused by consuming foods that are high in gout-producing purines.
Question: How do doctors usually figure out if someone has gout, diagnosis?
Your doctor can diagnose gout based on a review of your medical history, a physical exam, and your symptoms. Your doctor will likely base your diagnosis on:
your description of your joint pain
how often you've experienced intense pain in your joint
how red or swollen the area is
Your doctor may also order a test to check for a buildup of uric acid in your joint. A sample of fluid taken from your joint can show whether it contains uric acid. They may also want to take an X-ray of your joint.
If you have symptoms of gout, you can start with a visit to your primary care doctor. If your gout is severe, you may need to see a specialist in joint diseases.
If you need help finding a primary care doctor, then check out our FindCare tool here.
Question: What are the ways to prevent gout?
Here are a few steps you can take to help prevent gout:
Limit how much alcohol you drink.
Limit how much purine-rich food, such as shellfish, lamb, beef, pork, and organ meat, you eat.
Eat a low-fat, nondairy diet that's rich in vegetables.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Avoid smoking.
Exercise regularly.
Stay hydrated.
If you have medical conditions or take medications that raise your risk of gout, ask your doctor how you can lower your risk of gout attacks.
Useful Articles on gout
Additional Information and Resources:
Conclusion & Takeaways
Learning about gout is the first step toward taking control of your health. By understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatments, you empower yourself to make informed decisions. Remember to consult healthcare professionals for personalized advice and support.