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What is gout?
A gout is a form of arthritis that causes your body to produce too much uric acid. Uric acid is a chemical found in many foods and in normal amounts in the human body. Though uric acid plays an important role in the body, it can also cause some adverse effects when levels become elevated. Gout is one of these side effects. A person who has gout experiences recurring episodes of pain or tenderness in one or more joints accompanied by redness, swelling, and warmth often felt only beneath the skin.
Gout treatment
Treatment of gout attacks depends on the severity of the condition and the person’s age. For younger people, the doctor may recommend taking an anti-inflammatory drug (usually a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, like ibuprofen) to reduce pain and inflammation. For older people, treatment is more likely to include a diet rich in purine-rich foods, which are high in things like meats, seafood, and certain vegetables. An important thing to remember about gout treatment is that diet alone does not always cure gout. Individuals who do not respond to dietary changes may require prescription medications to help reduce pain and inflammation. There are several forms of gout treatment available. NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, decrease pain and inflammation by reducing the activity of the enzyme that causes inflammation. These drugs can cause stomach irritation, drowsiness, and kidney damage when taken for too long, so people should take them for no longer than three months. They are effective at controlling pain and inflammation, but they do not reduce the amount of purine in the body.
Managing gout
If you have gout, you’ll need to reduce your intake of foods that are high in purine. Some of the most common gout foods are beef, pork, shellfish, and alcohol. Another important strategy is to keep your weight under control. Excess weight can contribute to gout by putting pressure on the joints. A healthy diet that’s rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat proteins like fish and poultry can help you lose weight while simultaneously lowering your risk of developing gout. You can also try adding more fibre to your diet. If you manage to cut out the foods that cause gout, you’ll be able to reduce the amount of purine in your body. This will significantly decrease the frequency of attacks, allowing you to reduce the amount of medication you take.
Avoiding gout in the future
In order for gout to occur, uric acid has to get into your joints and cause damage. Once uric acid damages your joints, you will develop gout. The best way to prevent gout is to prevent uric acid from getting into your joints. To do this, you will have to make some changes to your diet. The most important change you can make is to cut back on the amount of meat, seafood, and alcohol you consume. These foods are all high in purine and will increase the amount of uric acid in your body if you eat too much of them.
Conclusion
Gout is an inflammatory condition that occurs when excess uric acid levels in the body lead to joint inflammation. Gout is most common in men over the age of 40 but can happen to anyone. Symptoms include pain and tenderness of the affected joint accompanied by redness, swelling, and warmth that may only be felt beneath the skin. Though uric acid plays an important role in the body, it can also cause some adverse effects when levels become elevated. Gout is one of these side effects. A person who has gout experiences recurring episodes of pain or tenderness in one or more joints accompanied by redness, swelling, and warmth often felt only beneath the skin. Gout treatment includes taking an NSAID pain reliever and dietary changes that lower uric acid levels in the body.