Gouty Arthritis

What is Gout?

Gout is a form of Arthritis that causes inflammation usually in joint. It can cause sudden burning pain and swelling in a joint. After some time gout can harm your joints, tendons, and some other tissues. It is found most in men. It is ten times more common in men than in women.
Gout is caused by too much uric acid levels in the blood. Uric acid forms crystals in your joints.Uric acid crystal deposits in the joint cause inflammation of the joint leading to pain, redness, heat & swelling. 

How is Uric Acid formed?

Uric acid is a product of the metabolic breakdown of Purine Nucleotides. Purines are type of proteins.

Risk factors of Gout:

-Obesity
-Excessive weight gain
-Alcohol consumption

-High blood pressure
-Abnormal Kidney function

-Gout is more common after surgery, trauma & dehydration.
-Medications such as diuretics that raise the level of uric acid in blood stream are risk factors of  gout.

Formation of Tophi in Gout conditions:

A tophi is a hard nodule of Uric acid that is deposited under the skin. Tophi can be found in various locations in the body, commonly on the elbows, upper ear cartilage, and on surface if joints. When Tophi are present, the Uric acid level in blood has been high for years.

Medications:

Mild uncomplicated gout can be treated with diet & life  style change. Studies have shown that even most rigorous diets does not lower uric acid levels. Medications are necessary.
There are three categories of medications:

   -Pain Relieving medications.

   -Prophylactic medications.
   -Uric acid lowering medications.

Prevention:

-Your diet should be with low saturated fat, and less in refined carbohydrates(for eg. sugar, bakery bread, potato chips etc.), less in complex carbohydrates(Whole grains)will reduce uric acid level. 

-Do not consume high fat dairy products.

-Do not consume sea food, red meat.
-Do not consume alcohol.
-Beverages which are sweetened with sugar or high fructose drinks increase risk of gout.
-Control obesity. Do walking or jogging to burn calories. If walking or jogging is difficult, do some simple hand exercises.