Gout is a common form of an arthritic condition that attacks various joints of the body and causes significant swelling, inflammation and severe pain.
It normally affects one joint in the body – most commonly the big toe. However, it can affect any of your joints, including:
- Instep (arch of the foot)
- Heel
- Ankle
- Knee
- Finger
- Wrist
- Elbow
Gout common among men
Gout is most common in men aged between 30 to 60 years of age and in older people of both sexes. Statistics show that it is one of the most common forms of arthritis with 1 in 200 adult people affected worldwide in developed countries.
While it is predominantly a male condition with more men than women suffering from it, women can and do suffer as well. The reason for the lower instance of gout in women is due to the fact that naturally women produce a lower level of urate in their bloodstream.
However after the onset of the menopause, there is a marked increase in the numbers of reported cases. While 30 to 60 is the prime age for gout attacks, young people and children can also get affected, albeit rarely.
Gout attack
Some people may only have one gout attack in their lifetime. But for many people, it does return on a fairly regular basis. A gout attack is often spontaneous, but it may also be triggered by illness, alcohol or too much exercise. It is also known to be hereditary.
Gout attacks usually last for between three to 10 days although in some severe outbreaks it can last for longer. After the attack subsides, the joint feels normal and pain-free again – not hot to the touch or inflamed.
The attacks are almost impossible to predict and, if not treated, can cause future attacks to be more frequent and to last longer, resulting in permanent damage to the joint and, in some severe cases, kidney impairment.
Causes of gout
Gout is the result of a buildup of uric acid (urate) in the bloodstream. When you blood becomes oversaturated with uric acid, uric acid turns into very tiny crystals and lodges in your joints. Microscopic images of these crystals show that they are sharp, pointed and almost needle-like.
Uric acid is usually a harmless waste product of the body. It is produced by the body when it breaks down substances in some foods known as purines.
Sometimes, however, the body cannot excrete all of the urate that is produced leading to the formation of the crystals.
Gout remedies
Although gout is common, there are a number of effective treatments and medicines that can help ease pain, reduce inflammation and prevent future attacks.
These include both natural and synthetic remedies, although due to the destructive nature of chronic gout, pain relief must be administered in conjunction with something that will treat and prevent the gout.
If pain relief is used in isolation without addressing the underlying cause, in severe cases it can mask pain yet lead to permanent damage to the joint as the gout is wearing at the joint surfaces and soft tissue, whilst the pain remedy is masking the pain.