Gout is a kind of arthritis. When the level of uric acid in our blood is too high, it will accumulate in the joints. In effect, those crystals being accumulated induces inflammatory pain. Gout will usually lead to acute arthritis attack and the attack is mostly focused on a single joint, especially the joint of big toe. The affected area would suddenly redden, become swollen, inflame and experience severe pain. But after a few days, the pain is going to diminish.
The causes of gout can be classified as inborn and acquired. If the causes are inborn, that means the metabolism of the patients is affected by genetic factors. As such, their body would tend to produce excessive uric acid. Therefore, gout would be easily induced if they do not pay attention to the diet. On the other hand, the acquire causes of gout usually have something to do with diet. Quite often, men over the age of 40 would encounter this problem, since most of them have the habit of drinking alcohol. Besides that, they enjoy eating organ meats and seafood, which contain a large amount of purine protein. During the process of metabolism, purine protein would become uric acid. At the same time, high mental pressure, overweight, excessive or insufficient exercise are also the acquired causes for inducing gout. Lastly, patients of leukemia (blood cancer), nephrosis (kidney disease), and those who are taking diuretic, are also prone to gout.
If the gout is serious enough, it would lead to joint deformation and chronic gout. Chronic gout would damage the kidney function of the patients and produce kidney stones.
How to prevent gout
Paying attention to our diet and and lifestyle would help to lower the chance of getting gout. For further details, you may read our
diet notice written by registered dietician.
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Written by Helen Chu, MS RDN, Registered Dietitian
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