Gout – The Angry Affliction!

The word Gout, for anyone who has suffered from the effects, conjures up thoughts of extreme pain and discomfort.

The myth that it is caused by a rich diet is probably true! Certain foods are high in purines which metabolise into uric acid and uric acid can deposit it’s needle like crystals in various joints around the body. The most common joint to be affected is the big toe which swells and turns an angry red. The pain is excruciating and any pressure on the area is unbearable – even that from a bed sheet.

Uric acid is usually processed by the kidneys and passed from the body in the urine, when this process is interrupted levels build up in the blood stream and hence the effects of gout can become evident. A person may have an attack of gout and it may never return or the attacks are far enough apart not to be unduly concerned. However, for the majority, the attacks will return and they will become more frequent, more prolonged and more painful unless action is taken.

A simple solution is to drink more water, this encourages your kidneys to produce more urine and hence expels the uric acid and prevents the build up of crystals and the possibility of stones in the kidneys (known as calculi). Without exception it is best to keep away from alcohol as this seems to aggravates the condition and the pain will be worse once the effects of the alcohol on your system take effect.

To reduce the frequency of gout attacks it is best to avoid ‘trigger’ foods which are high in purines. These include not only red meats and red wine (and alcohol in general) but mussels, prawns, anchovies, sardines, mushrooms, any offal such as liver and kidneys and game meats. Vegetables such as asparagus and spinach as well as oatmeal and lentils should be avoided.

Untreated, a gout attack will last 7 to 10 days with the pain gradually decreasing during that time. To treat the condition you need to relieve the pain and control the inflammation. Ibuprofen can be effective but its continued use can cause stomach and gastric problems as can other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID’s) such as diclofenac and indomethacin. Ongoing treatment of gout is usually by the supply of uric acid reduction drugs such as allopurinol but they can have undesirable effects especially if a patients kidneys are at risk from an underlying problem.

Natural cures are available and can have the desired effect of reducing the risk of gout attacks by removing the excess uric acid from the body without the undesirable effects experienced by prescribed drugs.

The author suffered gout for many years until he ‘discovered’ Tart Cherry Capsules and, as a result, no longer takes prescription drugs, has not done so for over 6 years and has suffered very few gout attacks during that period. These capsules can be obtained from Longer Health.