What is Gout and How Does It Affect Your Feet?
You’ve likely at least heard the term “gout.” And if you’re reading this post, it’s probably causing you or your spouse intense pain.
Gout is simply a kind of inflammatory arthritis caused by a buildup of uric crystals. It causes sudden and intense pain and swollen joints that appear red and become hot.
Your joints can also become tender and highly sensitive to even a light touch. You can also develop lumps under your skin. While not painful, they can eventually cause damage to your bones or cartilage.
Most “gout flares,” as the sudden jolts of pain are called, begin in your big toe. And you’ll frequently experience pain in your knees, hands, and feet.
What Causes Gout?
A buildup of too much uric acid in your body results in gout. Your body produces most of it naturally.
And then your diet, genetics, and own personal history of conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney disease contribute the rest of the uric acid required to develop gout.
In rare cases, some medications can also give you gout.
How Do You Treat Gout?
While gout cannot be cured, it can be kept under control so your life doesn’t become dominated by it.
NSAIDs and corticosteroids can reduce pain and swelling. Colchicine reduces the sudden pain and inflammation.
You can also take several other drugs which help lower the levels of uric acid in your body.
The best treatment for gout is living a healthy lifestyle likely to prevent it from happening. The particular changes to include in your life are:
- Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated and to help your kidneys function properly
- Exercising regularly to keep your weight in check, as high weight increases uric acid
- Avoiding foods high in uric acid (alcohol, red meat, shellfish, gravy, sugary drinks, animal protein)
When Should You Seek Help?
Take action the moment you notice any sort of sudden and intense joint pain.
This may or may not be gout. If it isn’t, it could be an infection.
If it is gout, simply letting it go can lead to permanent joint damage, severe arthritis, kidney stones, and heart disease.
Regardless of what could happen, it’s not fun; it causes pain; and it costs you more time and money to deal with.
Gout isn’t fun. But it doesn’t have to rule your life. Seek help. And take action to stay as healthy as you can.
