Gout

Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis. It causes pain and swelling in your joints. These symptoms appear suddenly, and attacks can last up to two weeks. Gout typically impacts your big toe. But it can also affect other joints, including your:

• Ankles
• Elbows
• Feet
• Hands
• Knees
• Wrists

Gout is three times more common in males than females. Many people who develop gout also have these other conditions:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Obesity

The buildup of sharp, pointy urate crystals in your joints causes gout. When these crystals collect, you experience pain and inflammation. Urate crystals form when you have a high level of uric acid in your blood. Uric acid is the chemical compound produced when your body breaks down purines, substances found in certain foods and drinks. Your body may make too much uric acid, or your kidneys may not be able to flush enough of it out.

Foods and drinks that produce high levels of purines include:

• Alcohol
• Dried beans or peas
• Protein-rich foods like animal brains, game meats, kidney or liver
• Seafood like anchovies, herring, mackerel and sardines
• Sugary drinks high in fructose

These factors can trigger a gout attack:

• Alcohol consumption
• Eating protein-rich foods
• Emotional stress
• Fatigue
• Illness
• Surgery

Ear infection symptoms differ between adults and children. Signs in an adult include:

• Age (Males usually develop gout between ages 30 and 50; females typically develop it after menopause)
• Alcohol consumption
• Being male
• Blood cancer
• Certain medications (low-dose aspirin, high blood pressure medication, immunosuppressants)
• Congestive heart failure
• Diabetes
• Drinking sugary drinks like sodas or fruit juices
• Eating protein-rich foods
• Family history
• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Overweight or obesity

Gout affects each person differently. Symptoms can appear suddenly, and attacks can strike without warning. The most common signs of gout include:

• Chills
• Fever
• Hard lumps of uric acid collected under the skin (called tophi)
• Joint inflammation
• Limited range of motion
• Overall feeling of being ill
• Pain that lingers for a few days or weeks
• Severe, sudden pain in one or more joints (usually the big toe)
• Skin over the joint that is purple, red, shiny and tight
• Swollen joints
• Tenderness
• Warmth in joints (feeling like the joint is “on fire”)

Our expert providers can usually diagnose your gout by talking about your symptoms and conducting a physical exam. If they need more information, they may recommend any of these tests:

• Blood test. A blood test can measure your uric acid level. These results aren’t foolproof, though. Many people with a high level of uric acid never develop gout, and some people with low levels do.
• Dual-energy computerized tomography (DECT). This test uses several X-ray images taken from multiple angles to reveal any urate crystals in your joints.
• Joint fluid test. Our providers use a needle to remove a sample of fluid from your joint. They examine it under a microscope to detect any urate crystals.
• Ultrasound. Our providers use sound waves to identify any urate crystals in your joints or hard uric acid lumps under your skin.
• X-rays. These images can eliminate any other causes of joint inflammation.

There is no cure for gout. Instead, our providers will focus on treatments that manage your symptoms and lower your risk for complications.

To reduce your gout symptoms, try these healthy lifestyle behaviors:

• Avoid alcohol
• Control chronic conditions
• Drink more fluids
• Eat less protein-rich food
• Maintain a healthy weight

The same uric acid that collects as urate crystals in your joints can also build up in your kidneys. These sharp crystals can clump together to cause painful kidney stones that can potentially lead to kidney damage.

Adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors is the best way to prevent gout. You can lower your risk if you:

• Avoid alcohol
• Consume fewer high-protein foods and drinks
• Drink plenty of water (improves kidney function and prevents dehydration)
• Exercise regularly (reduces stress on your joints)
• Lose weight or maintain a healthy weight (obesity increases your risk of gout)