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Gout
Gout is a common and complex form of inflammatory arthritis that can affect anyone. It is characterised by sudden attacks of intense pain often coupled with swelling of the affected area. The severe pain usually occurs in the big toe but also in other joints.
It is a common condition affecting between 1 in 2 in every 100 people in the UK. Gout usually affects males over 30 and women post-menopause. However, it is more common in men than in women. In fact, it is three times more likely to affect men than women.
What Is Gout?
Gout is a common type of arthritis that is characterised by sudden attacks of severe joint pain. It typically occurs in the big toe but can affect other joints in the hands, feet, elbows and wrists.
Attacks of gout can happen without warning, sometimes in the middle of the night. While some people experience gout episodes frequently, others can go years between attacks.
Gout Symptoms
The main symptom of a gout attack is sudden, severe joint pain. This could be one joint – usually the big toe – or several.
Other symptoms of gout can include:
- Intense Joint Pain: This usually occurs in the large joint of your big toe but can also occur in any joint. The pain is most severe within the first 4 – 12 hours
- Swelling: The area of the joint directly affected will be swollen and also tender, warm and red
- Peeling or flaky skin as the swelling subsides
- Limited range of motion: As gout progresses, you may not be able to move your joints normally
- Lingering discomfort: When the most severe pain passes, some discomfort in the joint may remain from a period of a few days to a few weeks. Any subsequent attacks are likely to last longer and affect more joints
On average, an episode of gout can last from three to 10 days, with or without medication. Some people may only have one attack in their lifetime, but without treatment or drastic change in diet and other risk factors, attacks may occur more frequently.
What Causes Gout?
Gout is caused by high levels of uric acid in the body. Uric acid is produced by the body when purines – chemicals that are found in some types of food and drinks – are broken down. It is a byproduct that goes through the kidneys before exiting the body in urine. When the body creates too much uric acid, or the kidneys aren’t able to handle it, sharp uric acid crystals form in the joints, causing gout. It should be noted that not everyone with high uric acid levels suffers from gout.
There are several risk factors attached to gout. Although the condition can affect anyone, men are more likely than women to get it. This is because, for most of their lives, men have higher uric acid levels than women. When gout occurs in women, it tends to be after menopause. You are also more likely to get gout if you:
- Are obese
- Have diabetes
- Have congestive heart failure
- Have a family history of gout
- Have kidney disease
- Have high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Eat a lot of meat
- Take diuretics (water pills)
- Drink a lot of alcohol
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