Gout – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments!

Gout – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments and much more is what you will learn from now on, so stay with us and discover everything about Gout , a disease  that kills more Brazilians every day. In addition, Gout is a disease  characterized by the elevation of uric acid in the blood, which leads to a deposit of sodium monourate crystals  in the joints.

It is this deposit that generates the outbreaks of secondary acute arthritis, which are so bothersome to patients. It is important to know that only 20% of people with a high level of uric acid (hyperucemia) will develop gout  , which affects more adult men than women .

What is Gout:  Gout or gouty arthritis, popularly called foot rheumatism, is an inflammatory disease  caused by excess uric acid in the blood that causes a lot of joint pain. Symptoms include swelling , redness and pain  when moving a joint, the most affected being the big toe, which is painful, especially when walking.

Gout attacks are curable, which can be achieved with food to reduce blood uric acid levels and the use of anti-inflammatory medications to control pain  and inflammation, such as Ibuprofen, Naproxen or Colchicine.

However, it is important to control the levels of uric acid in the blood to prevent Gout attacks and complications that are irreversible, such as joint deformations, in the form of blocks.

To control the levels of uric acid in the blood, the rheumatologist may recommend the use of drugs to block the production of uric acid, such as Allopurinol, or drugs to help the kidneys to eliminate uric acid in the urine, such as Probenecid.

Gout is caused by excess uric acid in the blood that accumulates to form urate crystals in the blood and is eliminated in the urine, however, when the body produces  too much uric acid or the kidneys eliminate too little uric acid, it can accumulate in the joints, forming urate crystals that give rise to Gout .

Causes of Gout:  Gout is  caused by the presence of higher than normal levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. This can occur if the body  produces too much uric acid or if the body has trouble getting rid of the uric acid it produces. When this substance builds up in the fluid around the joints (synovial fluid), uric acid crystals form. These crystals cause swelling  and inflammation in the joints. The exact cause of gout , however, is unknown.

There are records of gout  since many centuries before Christ, when it was known as “the patrician disease”. There was an epidemic of gout  in Ancient Rome and Victorian England between the 17th and 19th centuries, which lasted approximately 200 years. It is believed that lead poisoning, present in food  and wine, was the cause of the Gout  epidemic that spread among the inhabitants. This is because excess lead interferes with the excretion of uric acid by the kidneys.

As, at the time, Gout  was closely related to a healthy diet and there were no medications to reduce the amounts of uric acid in the body, there are records of Gout  in great names in History – such as Alexander the Great, Henry VIII, Charlemagne, Voltaire, Leonardo Da Vinci, Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton. This is also why Gout  was, for many years, associated with the cardinal sin of gluttony.

Symptoms of Gout:  Gout  is more common in men in their 40s and 50s or women  after menopause. This is because women  in the fertile period produce a greater amount of the hormone estrogen (which helps with renal flow), and, after menopause, the levels of this hormone decrease and there may be a favoring of the deposition of uric acid in the joints and the emergence of gout , when there is no good food control. Some signs of gout  are:

• Intense joint pain  , especially at the time of the gouty crisis (which occurs mainly at night). After the crisis, there may be discomfort and stiffness in joint movement;
• Redness and inflammation;
• Swelling  and possible formation of “lumps”;
• Burning in the affected area;
• Fever , as it is the way the body will try to protect itself from the crystals deposited in the joint;
•  Sudden pain .

Treatments for Gout:  To treat Gout we can distinguish two types of treatment: the treatment of the Gout crisis (1) and the treatment that prevents future attacks (2):

Gout Crisis Treatments – Medications For Gout Crisis:  To calm the painful crisis of Gout , the doctor mainly has analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs such as:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as those based on diclofenac, naproxen and ibuprofren to be taken, for example, in tablet form. Avoid taking aspirin in the treatment of gout , as it can influence uric acid and worsen gout symptoms .
• Colchicine (an antigout), which works against inflammation caused by uric acid crystals. However, this drug must be carefully evaluated due to its adverse reactions, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea .
• Corticosteroids such as prednisone and cortisone can be used because of their anti-inflammatory action. They can be given in the form of pills or injections into the joints. Corticosteroids are usually intended for people who cannot use NSAIDs.
• Prednisolone, a synthetic corticosteroid, is also frequently used in cases of gout crisis . A study by researchers from Hong Kong, published in February 2016 in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, showed that this drug is safe (does not lead to serious side effects), effective and can be said to have the same analgesic effect as indomethacin. , a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in case of gout .
• Canakinumab, an antibody directed against interleukin, used in some patients. It is prescribed when other medications such as NSAIDs and colchicine are ineffective or contraindicated.

Preventive Treatments for Gout Crisis: Initially, it is advisable to follow certain advices such as a change in lifestyle (reducing alcohol , meat consumption, etc.), to treat Gout  and limit future attacks. If the lifestyle change does not work, there is a possibility that the doctor will prescribe a very effective drug to prevent and limit new attacks of gout , allopurinol.

• In general, the doctor will start an allopurinol-based preventive drug treatment only if the patient has already had several attacks of gout . It is also important to know that this medication lowers the concentration of uric acid in the blood, which reduces the likelihood of having an attack of gout , but it will be necessary to take it regularly, as once the therapy is stopped, the probability of an attack can increase. It is therefore a long-term treatment.
• It is worth noting that many people who are treated with allopurinol for one year and then, for example, in the second year or at least some time after, stop taking it. This is dangerous because it poses a risk to  the patient’s health ( gout , kidney complications, etc). These will have to take the medication every day and the doctor or pharmacist can help them achieve this goal.
• Another drug that also blocks the production of uric acid is febuxostat. Both allopurinol and febuxostat can trigger a new attack of gout  if taken before a recent attack has fully healed.
• Probenecid is a drug that increases the kidney’s ability to excrete uric acid. In this way, uric acid concentrations in the blood decrease which reduces the risk of developing gout .

Recipes That Help Treat Gout :  The following recipes can help relieve pain, swelling ,  and reduce the build-up of uric acid in the body .

• Cherry : Cherry   contains a flavonoid called anthocyanin, which is very effective when it comes to preventing and fighting gout . This ingredient is very effective for the pain caused by gout  and lowering uric acid levels in the body . Experts recommend eating 15 to 20 cherries a day and acquiring a calming effect for the condition of Gout .
• Banana :  Banana  has potassium  present in large amounts, it very effectively fights the accumulation of uric acid crystals derived from our body . In addition, the Vitamin C present in Banana also helps in the treatment of Gout . It is recommended to eat between 2 or 3 bananas a day to deal with this condition.
• Vinagre de Maçã: O vinagre de maçã é uma das suas melhores opções. Esta acidez neste ingrediente é capaz de aliviar o inchaço em grande escala e dor causada por Gota. Adicione uma colher de sopa de vinagre de maçã para um copo de água e beba esta mistura 2 ou 3 vezes por dia.
• Epsom salt:  Take a hot bath in hot water  with some Epsom salt to relieve the symptoms of gout . This substance present in magnesium , help to regulate blood pressure  and relax your entire body , thus causing swelling  and pain to decrease.
• Lemon Juice: Lemon  juice  can  also be very effective when treating gout because it is a fully alkaline ingredient that quickly lowers uric acid levels in the body . Mix lemon juice with a tablespoon of baking soda , and then add this mixture to a glass of water  and drink. You will be amazed at the results!
• Apple:  The malic acid present in apple helps to quickly reduce uric acid levels in the body . If you want to know how to treat gout  and quickly reduce the symptoms of this painful condition, eating 2 apples a day is the most practical and simple solution.
• Baking Soda:  Baking soda is one of the best home remedies to treat gout .  Dissolve just half a teaspoon of  baking soda in  a glass of water , and drink this powerful mixture 2 or 3 times a day for two consecutive weeks in order to treat gout .