Gout - Understanding The Causes And Treatments
Gout is a form of arthritis that typically occurs suddenly and can be very painful. A joint in the big toe is the most common joint to be affected by a gout attack but swelling and pain can occur in almost any joint in your body. Studies have shown that it affects more males than females.
There are treatments that are available to help with the symptoms of an attack as well as for preventing the attacks from happening. A lot of patients who have experienced attacks have reported that the attacks often occur at night. If you are not using medications you might experience the symptoms for five to about ten days.
Gout is caused by crystals that are created due to a high level of uric acid in the bloodstream and the crystals build up in the joints and in the joint fluid. The crystals cause your joints to swell and cause severe pain to occur. Uric acid is created in your body while the body is braking down purines.
Purines
Purines are found naturally in your body but they are also found in foods such as meats, seafood, organ meats, asparagus as well as mushrooms and other food items. For most people the uric acid typically dissolves in the bloodstream and travels through the kidneys and exits your body through urine. However for some people their body might create too large of a quality of uric acid or the kidneys are not eliminating enough uric acid.
Gout Medications
Most gout treatment programs doctors recommend for their patients include medications. NSAID’s have the ability to reduce inflammation as well as pain that occurs due to gout. Some patients receive good results with over the counter types of NSAID’s including ibuprofen and naproxen, however some patients need prescription NSAID’s. A medication known as Colchicine has been effective at dealing with gout but it has been reported to have side effects including vomiting, nausea as well as diarrhea.
Some types of steroids such as prednisone may be effective at controlling symptoms such as inflammation of the joints and pain. However steroids can have serious side affects such as your bones becoming thinner, wounds not healing properly and your body having a difficult time eliminating infections.
In order to prevent gout attacks from occurring, your doctor might recommend you taking medications such as allopurinol since it has shown to be effective at blocking the creation of uric acid. Medications such as Probenecid have been shown to be effective at increasing the elimination of uric acid from the body. If you have gout systems it’s important to consult with your doctor.
By Health Editor
