What is gout? And how to prevent it?
- Thread starter SdTito
- Start date
I have heard of this.. but since I don't know much I ran a search on Wikipedia.. and here is my findings. I'll edit whats important, and so forth.
Gout (also called gouty arthritis, Greek name: podagra, from pod - foot and agra - trap) is a form of arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in joints. It is an intensely painful disease, which in most cases affects only one joint (monoarthritis), most commonly the big toe.
The classic picture is of excruciating and sudden pain, swelling, redness, warmness and stiffness in the joint. Low-grade fever may also be present. The patient usually suffers from two sources of pain. The crystals inside the joint cause intense pain whenever the affected area is moved. The inflammation of the tissues around the joint also causes the skin to be swollen, tender and sore if it is even slightly touched.
Gout has four distinct stages:
1. asymptomatic,
2. acute,
3. intercritical,
4. chronic.
In the first (asymptomatic) stage, plasma uric acid level increases, but there are no symptoms. The first attack of gout marks the second or acute stage. Mild attacks usually go away quickly, whereas severe attacks can last days or even weeks. After the initial attack, the person enters the intercritical stage or symptom-free interval that may last months or even years. Most gout patients have their second attack within 6 months to 2 years from their initial episode.
In the last or chronic stage, gout attacks become frequent and become polyarticular (affecting multiple joints at one time). Large tophi can also be found in many joints. In advanced cases of chronic gout, kidney damage, hypertension and kidney stones can also develop.
Prevention
Long term treatment (in frequent attacks) is antihyperuricemic therapy.
Dietary change can make a contribution to lowering the plasma urate level if a diet low in purines is maintained, because the body metabolizes purines into uric acid. Avoiding alcohol, high-purine foods, such as meat, fish, dry beans (also lentils and peas), mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, and cauliflower, as well as consuming purine-neutralizing foods, such as fresh fruits (especially cherries and strawberries) and most fresh vegetables, diluted celery juice, distilled water, and B-complex and C vitamins can help.
To lower uric acid:
* cherries have been shown to reduce uric acid
* strawberries or blueberries (and other dark red/blue berries) are also reputed to be beneficial
* celery extracts (celery or celery seed either in capsule form or as a tea) is believed by many to reduce uric acid levels (although these are also diuretics).
* limit food high in protein such as meat, fish, poultry, or tofu to 8 ounces (226 grams) a day. Avoid entirely during a flare up.
Food to avoid:
* foods high in purines
o sweetbreads, kidneys, liver, brains, or other offal meats
o sardines
o anchovies
o scallops, prawns, and crabs
o alcohol. Some claim that this applies especially to beer, on the basis that brewer's yeasts are very rich in purine. In view of the fact that most modern commercial beer contains trace amounts of yeast, this claim requires substantiation. Others claim that red wine is particularly bad for gout, though again it is difficult to find an explanation. Alcohol may also reduce the rate of uric acid excretion.
o meat extracts, consommés, and gravies
* diet sodas (these act as diuretics in many people, causing uric acid to concentrate in the blood which can then easily precipitate)
Seems to be painful. Sorry to hear the bad news. I added the foods section so you can keep an eye out for your father. In case he may forget or try to encourage him to eat the foods that will help lower his uric acid count. I wish your father well.
Gout (also called gouty arthritis, Greek name: podagra, from pod - foot and agra - trap) is a form of arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in joints. It is an intensely painful disease, which in most cases affects only one joint (monoarthritis), most commonly the big toe.
The classic picture is of excruciating and sudden pain, swelling, redness, warmness and stiffness in the joint. Low-grade fever may also be present. The patient usually suffers from two sources of pain. The crystals inside the joint cause intense pain whenever the affected area is moved. The inflammation of the tissues around the joint also causes the skin to be swollen, tender and sore if it is even slightly touched.
Gout has four distinct stages:
1. asymptomatic,
2. acute,
3. intercritical,
4. chronic.
In the first (asymptomatic) stage, plasma uric acid level increases, but there are no symptoms. The first attack of gout marks the second or acute stage. Mild attacks usually go away quickly, whereas severe attacks can last days or even weeks. After the initial attack, the person enters the intercritical stage or symptom-free interval that may last months or even years. Most gout patients have their second attack within 6 months to 2 years from their initial episode.
In the last or chronic stage, gout attacks become frequent and become polyarticular (affecting multiple joints at one time). Large tophi can also be found in many joints. In advanced cases of chronic gout, kidney damage, hypertension and kidney stones can also develop.
Prevention
Long term treatment (in frequent attacks) is antihyperuricemic therapy.
Dietary change can make a contribution to lowering the plasma urate level if a diet low in purines is maintained, because the body metabolizes purines into uric acid. Avoiding alcohol, high-purine foods, such as meat, fish, dry beans (also lentils and peas), mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, and cauliflower, as well as consuming purine-neutralizing foods, such as fresh fruits (especially cherries and strawberries) and most fresh vegetables, diluted celery juice, distilled water, and B-complex and C vitamins can help.
To lower uric acid:
* cherries have been shown to reduce uric acid
* strawberries or blueberries (and other dark red/blue berries) are also reputed to be beneficial
* celery extracts (celery or celery seed either in capsule form or as a tea) is believed by many to reduce uric acid levels (although these are also diuretics).
* limit food high in protein such as meat, fish, poultry, or tofu to 8 ounces (226 grams) a day. Avoid entirely during a flare up.
Food to avoid:
* foods high in purines
o sweetbreads, kidneys, liver, brains, or other offal meats
o sardines
o anchovies
o scallops, prawns, and crabs
o alcohol. Some claim that this applies especially to beer, on the basis that brewer's yeasts are very rich in purine. In view of the fact that most modern commercial beer contains trace amounts of yeast, this claim requires substantiation. Others claim that red wine is particularly bad for gout, though again it is difficult to find an explanation. Alcohol may also reduce the rate of uric acid excretion.
o meat extracts, consommés, and gravies
* diet sodas (these act as diuretics in many people, causing uric acid to concentrate in the blood which can then easily precipitate)
Seems to be painful. Sorry to hear the bad news. I added the foods section so you can keep an eye out for your father. In case he may forget or try to encourage him to eat the foods that will help lower his uric acid count. I wish your father well.
Last edited:
Gout is the result of deposits of sodium urate crystals that build up in the joints caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. What happens is that the kidneys can not get rid of enough uric acid in your urine and therefore it builds up in your system. It causes attacks of really painful joint inflammation. There are a few things you can do to help prevent attacks.
avoid alchol; lose weight; avoid foods like anchoives, asparagus, consomme, herring, meat gravies and broths, mushrooms, mussels, organ meats, sardines, and sweet breads.
Risk factors are- some cancers and blood disorders; drugs such as thiazide diuretics, cyclosporine, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, nicotinic acid, warfin, and low dose salicylates; the above mentioned foods; hypothyroidism; lead poisioning; obesity; radiation treatment; renal failure; and starvation.
There are med's to help with the inflammation and lifestyle changes that the doc will perscribe to help prevent attacks.
Hope that helps some if not let me know and I'll write out something else tomorrow afternoon.
avoid alchol; lose weight; avoid foods like anchoives, asparagus, consomme, herring, meat gravies and broths, mushrooms, mussels, organ meats, sardines, and sweet breads.
Risk factors are- some cancers and blood disorders; drugs such as thiazide diuretics, cyclosporine, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, nicotinic acid, warfin, and low dose salicylates; the above mentioned foods; hypothyroidism; lead poisioning; obesity; radiation treatment; renal failure; and starvation.
There are med's to help with the inflammation and lifestyle changes that the doc will perscribe to help prevent attacks.
Hope that helps some if not let me know and I'll write out something else tomorrow afternoon.
Best of luck to your father SdTito, I hope his doctors help him manage it so he doesn't go through a lot of pain.