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Gout
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Overview |
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Gout is the most painful of all forms of arthritis and can cause intense pain and swelling in the joints of the foot, ankle, knee, wrist and elbow, but particularly in the big toe. If left untreated, attacks become more frequent, more prolonged and more generalised.
There has been a steady increase in the prevalence of gout over the last two decades. Fortunately, the causes of gout are now understood. As a result, attacks may be easily treated, recurrences possibly avoided and damage to joints and kidneys reduced.
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Symptoms and Diagnosis |
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Gout is caused by excess uric acid (urate) in the blood and tissues. Eventually needle-shaped urate crystals can form in and around the joints and kidneys. If urate crystals enter a joint, they may trigger the development of inflammation. The affected joint becomes red, swollen and extremely painful and tender.
Gout is usually diagnosed on the basis of its distinctive symptoms and an examination of the affected joints. A high uric acid level in the blood supports the diagnosis.
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Treatments |
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The goals of treatment are threefold: the first step is to reduce the pain and inflammation of the acute attack; the second is to prevent the recurrence of attacks (principally by changes to diet); and the third is to lower urate levels and so prevent the development of complications such as joint damage and kidney disease.
People who experience repeated, severe attacks may need long-term, preventive daily drug treatment which aims to lower the level of uric acid in the blood. This treatment can only be started when an acute attack has settled.
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RELIEVING THE SYMPTOMS OF GOUT |
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The amount of uric acid in the body can be greatly influenced by what people eat and gout sufferers are usually asked to modify intake of, or avoid, certain foods and drink. These include red meat and offal (liver and kidneys), seafood (including anchovies, herrings and sardines) and alcohol (particularly beer and wine). Sufferers are usually advised to drink as much as 3.5 litres of water every day to help their kidneys get rid of excess uric acid. Some people may be asked to lose weight if obese.
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Medical Information/Conditions |
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While there may be information on this website related to certain medical conditions and their treatment, should a medical condition exist, you should consider seeing your own doctor or healthcare provider. We do not offer personalised medical diagnosis or patient-specific treatment advice. Indeed, only your doctor or other healthcare professional can determine if a medicine described in this, or any, website is appropriate for you.
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