What is Gout?

Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the body. Uric acid is made from the breakdown of purines (parts of tissues). This uric acid normally dissolves in the blood, goes through the kidneys and finally leaves the body in our urine. A disruption in this normal body process is a condition known as hyperuricemia. When the body fails to control the increase in uric acid, results in crystals of uric acid accumulating in joints or tissues of bones, or in both. Hyperuricemia is not dangerous, but when these crystals become hard, it causes an extremely painful condition called gout which is a form of arthritis.

Gout Causes

Though men and women can get gout, it affects men much more often. Gout affects men after puberty, but women are affected after menopause. Anyone who has undergone an organ transplant may be at the risk of developing gout at any age.

Heredity can be a cause for the occurrence of gout, but other factors are also responsible for gout. If both parents have gout, there is about a 20% chance the child will be affected as well.

Nutrition or eating habits also play a major role in gout. Unhealthy eating habits, such as eating too much junk food or alcohol—especially beer; high protein foods such as red meats, oily fish and yeast may increase the chances of gout. Very low-calorie diets can also be a factor.

Wearing shoes that don’t fit well may lead to gout.

Obesity and other nutrition factors such as starvation, dehydration or any kind of trauma are uncommon causes for gout.

Certain medicines can also cause gout. They lower the body’s ability to reduce uric acid levels in the blood. Aspirin, niacin also called nicotinic acid, cyclosporine, levodopa, are among some of the medicines that can cause gout. Certain medicines that treat tuberculosis—pyrazinamide and ethambutol—are also harmful. Diuretics used to treat heart diseases, hypertension and edema, can reduce the uric acid passed in the urine considerably, resulting in gout.

In addition to medicines, certain diseases can cause gout including lymphoma, leukemia and diseases related to hemoglobin disorders.

Gout Diagnosis

- Joint Aspiration

- Blood Tests

- Xrays

Gout Treatment

The treatment of gout involves three major steps:

- stopping the immediate pain due to an inflammation
- take preventive measures for future gout attacks
- prevent the formation of more urate crystals as well as kidney stones