Gout is a form of acute arthritis caused by hyperurecemia which is an elevated level of monosodium urate, or uric acid, in the blood.
Due to an inability of the body to purge this excess of uric acid, uric acid crystals could form, usually in the soft tissue of the joints, which could cause the patient great pain.
Inflammation, tenderness and intense pain, particularly in the big toe, are all indicators that a patient has gout.
How do I get gout? Many different causes of gout have come to light due to recent studies done by leading medical researchers nationwide.
Diet definitely plays a large part.
People whose diet is composed mainly of shellfish, red meat, and organs are more likely to acquire gout than vegetarians.
People who regularly drink beer are more likely to get gout than people who prefer wine.
Gender also seems to play a part in determining a patient's gout risk level.
Gout usually attacks men who are in their forties and fifties, and more often than not they are forced to live with the condition until they die.
Some incidences of women getting gout has been noted, but men are nine times more likely to be inflicted with it.
Genetics is the other major gout risk indicator.
If one of your parents has gout, it is entirely possible that you will get it too.
The explanation for this is that since one or both of your parents have difficulty cleaning out their bodies of excess uric acid, then they would have passed that difficulty to you as well.
How do I prevent gout? First of all, check your medical history.
Do your parents have gout? If they have, then you are at risk and must take extra precautions to prevent the onset of gout.
Be sure to drink lots of water (at least twelve glasses a day) and stay away from beer as much as possible.
Second, watch what you eat.
Keep away from shellfish and organ meats like kidney and liver.
Stick to lean cuts of meat and eat plenty of vegetables.
Third, get regular exercise.
Gout has been known to be more prevalent in the obese than in the fit.
Besides, exercise is good even if you are not just preventing gout.
Finally, get regular check ups.
Have blood work done to monitor your blood cholesterol and uric acid levels.
Forewarned is forearmed, as they say.
What do I do if I have gout? Many famous people were known to have been afflicted with gout.
Henry VIII, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson were but a few among them, but that did not prevent them from living productive lives.
Neither should it prevent you.
Simply take the precautions mentioned above.
Gout remedies are also available.
Allopurinol is known to be an effective medication against gout.
It lowers blood uric acid levels, making attacks of gout less frequent.
You can also treat gout through natural means.
A tablespoon of hops mixed with a tablespoon of fresh butter, when used as an ointment, will help ease the pain and swelling of gout.
Consult your doctor to be sure.