If you’ve got tenderness, swelling, and pain in your joints, you may have gouty arthritis, or gout. What exactly is gout?
Gout is basically a buildup of uric acid in the joints and surrounding tissues of the body. It is most common in men, and most often is first experienced in the big toe. If uric acid collects in a significant quantity, it crystallizes, and these crystals cause severe pain in the affected area.
The pain is usually a burning sensation, and can be so intense that simple contact with any foreign material is intolerable. Along with the pain will be swelling, redness, and tenderness around the affected area. The symptoms will last a few days, and up to a few weeks on occasion.
Gout is easily treated by dissolving or breaking up the crystallized acid. The most important step is simply getting enough water during the day and maintaining movement to stimulate blood flow everywhere. Reducing red meat and alcohol intake also helps, as both of these impact hydration. Additionally, alcohol slows uric acid excretion and red meat contains purine, which the body converts to uric acid (adding to the existing levels). There are medicinal treatments as well, ranging from Tylenol to a variety of anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs to reduce uric acid levels in the bloodstream and body.
The most important thing with gout is to actually treat it early. The pain is a direct response to tissue damage being done to the affected joint, and left untreated it will result in long-term or permanent damage to those joints.
And since fluid intake, movement, and diet will all affect uric acid levels in the body, simple dietary and exercise choices are enough to avoid gout altogether for most people.
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Quote for the week
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From the editor
A friend of mine was recently concerned about a sudden, stinging pain in his big toe. After some discussion, it was suggested by someone that he might have gout. Good news: it turns out that the symptoms of gout are not quite what my friend is experiencing. Bad news: now he again has no idea what the pain is from.
If you are experiencing something odd or unpleasant and would like to find out more about it, chances are others are, too. I’m happy to look into things to help you and anyone else who is interested. Just let me know what your questions are using the feedback form on the website.
Healthy thoughts,
Jeff
