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Sunday, July 26th, 2009

Gout Disease A Type of Acute Arthritis: Is it Enemy of Rich Men?

Gout disease is caused by crystal deposition in or within the surrounding regions of the joints. It is a type of arthritis that shows up by causing excruciating pain, swelling and redness on the feet. Before gout strikes, there must have been raise in the blood uric acid known as hyperuricemia. Activities are on suspension when gout strikes.

It’s been statistically determined that out of the number of people who suffer from gout; 95% are men while only 5% are women. In most cases, gout disease starts out on the big toe and might vanish but not with treatment at the initial stage. It might take as long as years before gout can reappear after the first incident; but when gout finally shows up again and repeatedly in a severe way, it can wreck havoc on the joints. A severe and persistent case of gout disease can hamper movement.

What Is The Cause Of Gout Disease?

As mentioned earlier, gout is a product of crystal deposition in the joints or the areas surrounding the joints. Gout precedes long years of increase or raise in the blood uric acid; a phenomenon known as hyperuricemia. Gout disease is becoming prevalent in recent decades and gout case is increasing steadily. Experts has associated this steady increase of gout prevalence to the changes in variety of diet and lifestyle, high consumption of fatty foods, obesity and increased use of medication. These factors mentioned have great potentiality of raising the levels of uric acid. Fortunately, there is remedy for gout disease through medication and other treatment options.

Treatment for Gout Disease

Treatment for gout diseases is usually geared towards achieving swift pain and inflammation relief, bringing an end to severe gout attacks, preventing attack in the future and ensuring that complications will not result. Some complications that might result from gout treatment include damage of the joint, tophi formation and kidney stones. However, there is always a successful treatment carried out for gout patients; but sometimes, effective treatment can be hampered by complication arising from another disease co-existing with gout in some patients. Also some patients exhibit low compliance for treatment that involves change of lifestyle and dietary pattern; this has the capacity of retarding gout treatment effectiveness.

Medical treatment of gout disease includes:

Indomethacin – acute gout is commonly treated by indomethacin at the first instance. This medication starts out with full dosage and subsequently reduces as the gout symptom calms. A continuous use of this medication is recommended for forty eight hours to ensure that inflammation and pain is no longer experienced. Other NSAIDS can also be effective for gout treatment as well.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone or Corticosteroids is a gout disease medication option for those who cannot medicate on colchicines or NSAIDS. Prednisone (20-40milligram) daily dose is administered to patients who are suffering from acute gout for a period of time between 3 and 4 days. This medication is taken intramuscularly by means of injection.

Other medical treatments for gout disease are Allopurinol, Probenecid, Sulfinpyrazone, ColBenemid and others.

DO NOT commence any treatment on gout disease without due consultation, diagnosis and treatment prescription from qualified medical personnel. A complementary treatment to gout disease will include a change in lifestyle.

6 Responses to “Gout Disease A Type of Acute Arthritis: Is it Enemy of Rich Men?”

Bob Wilson Says:

I had my first case of gout about 2 months ago. I thought I’d sprained both ankles. Predisone was perscribed and it when away. Currently, the gout has been flaring up about every week. Most doctors I talk to do not want to perscribe predisone for every flare up. I can not beleive the amount of pain that accompanies the redness and water retention in my knees, lower legs and feet! At the rate that I’m having these flare ups, it’s almost like I should be on predisone and pain-killers all the time. I have lost about 50% of the movement in my left knee and not bear full weight on it. I also have peticular hemoraging(spelling) on both legs below the knees, this also includes my feet.
Is there anything I can do about this?

Randy Hay Says:

Go see a rheumatologist – there are mainetenance medicines such as Probenacid to keep the Uric acid levels under control.

jane Says:

Hi,

I have been suffering from gout for about 33 years now, with
period in crisis and gout that wouldn’t leave my body.
Now I can honestly say I have learned a lot about this disease and how to live with it and all the limits it imposes, specially with food and liquid intake.
I always stayed away from alcool so I tought I would be fine but It was not so easy.
In a way, gout has forced me to discipline myself toward healthy food and good habits.
The biggest advice I could give with all my years of painful experience is this:
In the last three months, I gave up coffee. HUGE improvement!
Second thing I gave up: refined sugar.
And the third thing, I stop eating and that was the worst for gout is cheese. I completly stop having stifness in my toes.
It was a matter of improving my quality of life and with the help and encouragment of my husband, it was much easier cause he stop too.
If you feel it is too hard, you can replace any of those item by better ones, like real green tea, fruits and avocado.
The rewards are endless because I was trying to stop the presence of gout and I ended up with better mood, clearer skin, less trip to the bathroom to pee, better sleep,etc…

Hope these coments helps you too.

Ward Spears Says:

My grandfather, father, and I suffer from gout. It is more of a genetic issue than diet. The approach that works for me is to take a daily dose of allopurinol. I find that it either stops or greatly reduces the severity of any attack. You should be aware that you can only start taking allopurinol after the gout attack is over. If you take it during an attack, it will make the gout worse.

Another important therapy is plenty of fluids (non-alcoholic). I found that my gout attackes primarily occurred during the summer because I get partially dehydrated. Alcohol makes gout worse because when you metabolize booze, it takes water out of your system and concentrates the uric acid.

Sam Meade Says:

I suffered with gout for about 5 years. I was having a flare-up about every other week, sometimes in both feet at the same time. Three years ago I started taking black cherry capsules, 4 per day, and have not had it since. I was a real skeptic but now a firm believer.

Arlen Says:

I have suffered from gout for years. The one thing that I have found that helps me from this from coming back is drinking lots of water. If I am on my feet for a long time or just being active I may get a flair-up. However, if I do these extra activities and drink lots of water I have no to minor problems. If I feel something coming on I take an anti-inflamatory pill like Advil. I also take extra time to drink lots of water. Works for me! My dad had a gout attack just recently – he’s 83 now. This was his first time. My biggest problem is my weight, I am way to heavy and I am sure that would almost eliminate the problem. None of my brothers experience gout and they have no weight problems. Stay slim, eat healthy (I don’t much)and drink lots of water!!!!

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