Gouty arthritis can cause a sudden attack of stiffness, burning pain and joint swelling. These sudden attacks can occur repeatedly unless gouty arthritis is treated. Eventually, this condition can be harmful to your tendons, tissues and joints.
Gouty arthritis is caused by excessive uric acid in the blood. People with high levels of uric acid in the blood do not usually get gout but when the levels of uric acid gets too high, it may create hard crystals in the joints.
Individuals drinking too much alcohol, who are overweight or eat too much fish and meat rich in purines are more prone to getting gouty. In addition, some medications such as water pills can bring gout as well.
Some of the common signs of gout are sudden attacks of tenderness, redness, swelling and intense pain in the big toe. It is also possible to experience attacks in the ankle, foot and knees. These attacks usually last for a few days or several weeks and another attack may happen after months or even years. It is necessary to see a doctor even you are no longer experiencing pains from gout because the uric acid buildup can still be harmful to the joints.
In order to diagnose the condition, the doctor asks questions regarding the symptoms and performs a physical examination. In addition, the doctor may take fluid samples from the joints to look for crystals formed by uric acid. It is also required to do a blood test in order to measure the uric acid amount in the blood.
To stop the attack of gout, the doctor can prescribe corticosteroids or a large dose of one or more medications in a daily basis. Effects of the medications usually start within twenty-four hours.
To lessen the pain of gout attack, it is best to rest the joints. Taking anti-inflammatory medicine or ibuprofen can help ease the pain. However, do not take aspirin for it may worsen the gout as it may increase the level of uric acid in the blood.
In order to prevent gout attacks in the future, there are prescribed medications to help lessen the buildup of uric acid in the blood. Make sure to follow the doctor's advice to lower uric acid levels. Many people continue taking the medicine for the rest of their lives to experience permanent effects.
It is important to pay attention to what kinds of food you eat in order to manage the condition. Eating moderate amounts of healthy foods to control weight is essential. Prevent eating too much seafood, meat and alcohol. It is also recommended to drink a lot of water and other fluids.
Resting the affected area for twenty-four hours can ease the pain caused by the attack. In addition, you need to control your weight and having a low-fat diet can help. However, prevent fasting or diets that have very low calories because these diets tend to increase the uric acid amount produced by the body.
In the past, gouty arthritis was believed to be because of too much alcohol intake and eating too much rich foods. Though drinking alcohol and eating certain foods can trigger gout attacks, these factors may not be the major causes of gout. The condition is actually caused by an excessive production of uric acid in the blood.
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