Gout in right big toe, with advanced swelling (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Do you suffer from painful swelling, redness and inflammation of your toes, heels or ankles? Does this condition come and go? Does it worsen in severity and frequency and does the duration lengthen? If you answered yes then you may suffer from GOUT. Gout is a common arthritic condition that is caused by a buildup or excessive amount of uric acid which crystallizes in the joints.More than eight million people in the U.S. suffer from gout, and over the past two decades, numbers have risen dramatically. Men who consume alcohol are at greater risk for gout, especially if there are others in their family who suffer from it. Symptoms of gout can occur suddenly, are intensely painful and usually last a day or two, at first. These are acute gout symptoms. It is most prevalent in men over 40 years old and acute symptoms will usually show in the big toe first. However, other joints that can be affected are the feet, knees, hands, ankles and wrists. Chronic gout symptoms are the result of repeated gout attacks. Nodules can form under the skin, which is extremely painful during a gout attack, and can lead to open and infected wounds.
Diet is a major contributing factor to gout, and therefore must be considered in prevention as well as treatment. Certain foods are more likely to cause gout. These include:
• Organ meats
• Red meats
• Fish high in oils (tuna, anchovies)
• Cauliflower and asparagus
These are the same foods that need to be avoided during an attack of gout, or eliminated altogether, if you suffer from gout. Certain diseases or medical conditions can make you more susceptible to attacks of gout. These include:
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Low thyroid function
• Renal failure
Treatment options for gout include medications and possibly even acupuncture can provide some relief, but it is important to change your diet. Reduce red meats, increase fruits rich in antioxidants (cherries are great), change to low fat or no fat dairy products, eliminate alcohol and eat high quality complex carbohydrates as opposed to sugary foods.
Since gout usually shows up in the big toe or foot first, Dr. Blaakman can assist with your evaluation, and start you on a treatment program that is right for you. Call him at (877)941-FEET (3338).
References:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gout.html
http://www.healthline.com/health/gout
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