Bloodwork, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Supplements

Understanding Gout: Symptoms, Causes, and How to Manage Flare-Ups

That sudden, excruciating pain in your big toe – is it possible it could be gout? Gout can be a truly debilitating form of arthritis, but understanding what causes it and how to manage it can significantly improve your quality of life. As your Blood Buddy, we’re here to break down the essentials of gout and provide you with actionable steps to take control.

What is Gout, Anyway?

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the body. Uric acid (or urate) is a chemical that’s made in the body. Normally, your kidneys remove uric acid from your blood and pass it out of your body through urine (pee). However, if your body makes too much uric acid or your kidneys can’t remove enough of it, small needle-like crystals can form in the joints. These crystal deposits cause gout.

Recognizing the Symptoms: What Does a Gout Attack Feel Like?

Acute gouty arthritis is an attack of gout that comes on suddenly. These flare-ups usually affect only a single joint in the lower body the base of the big toe, ankle, or knee are most common.

During an acute gouty attack, you may notice:

  • Pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the joint.

  • Pain that starts late at night or very early in the morning.

  • Pain that is at its worst 12 to 24 hours after it starts (some amount of pain and swelling may remain for days or weeks after).

If gout is serious or goes untreated, it may spread to other joints, including fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, and hips. The crystals can also cause kidney stones.

Blood Buddy can track with location if it starts to affect other areas. The symptom tracking is available in the app.

What Factors Increase Your Risk of Gout?

Some medical conditions that increase your chance of getting gout are:

  • Hyperuricemia (high levels of uric acid in your bloodstream)

  • High blood pressure

  • Kidney disease

  • Diabetes

  • Obesity

Other factors that increase your risk include:

  • Sex: Adult men are more likely to develop gout than women.

  • Age: Gout tends to affect older adults (age 40 and over). Gout in children is rare.

  • Diet: Certain foods can increase uric acid in the body, including some fish and seafood, red meat, fatty foods, and sugary drinks.

  • Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol, especially beer, can increase uric acid levels. Alcohol can also cause dehydration and trigger inflammation.

  • Fasting or Overeating

  • Family History of Gout

How is Gout Diagnosed?

Gout can be hard to diagnose. Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and may take fluid from a painful joint to check for uric acid crystals. Your blood may also be checked for high levels of uric acid. The doctor will extract fluid from the painful joint. This will allow the doctors to see if uric acid crystals are present.

Managing Gout: Treatment Options and Lifestyle Changes

Treatment for gout depends on whether you have acute (short-term) gouty arthritis or chronic gout. While there is not cure for gout, treatment can help:

  • Prevent gouty arthritis attacks

  • Improve recovery times

  • Reduce tophi deposits

  • Prevent complications, such as kidney stones

Acute Treatment:

To treat acute gouty arthritis attacks, your doctor will prescribe medication that helps reduce swelling and pain. Commonly used medications include:

  • NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve)

  • Corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory steroids), including prednisone and prednisolone

  • Colchicine [KOL-che-seen], an alternative for people who are unable to use NSAIDs

Take the medication as soon as you feel an attack is starting. This will help shorten the duration of the attack and help you recover sooner. Rest and ice may also help relieve discomfort.
As soon as an attack happens speak to a doctor to get acute treatment

Long-Term Treatment:

The goal of long-term treatments is to lower the level of uric acid in your body. Long-term treatments require both medications and lifestyle changes, for example:

  • Taking medication to lower uric acid levels in your body.

  • Managing other health conditions (like diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease).

  • Maintaining a healthy weight.

  • Eating a gout-friendly diet, which includes eating foods low in purines and avoiding foods that cause inflammation. For example:

    • Eat less red meat

    • Avoid high-purine seafood, such as anchovies, codfish, herring, mackerel, mussels, sardines, scallops, and trout.

    • Eat more low-fat dairy products.

    • Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.

    • Limit alcohol, especially beer and liquor.

    • Avoid foods that are high in refined sugars and saturated fats.

Key Takeaways:

  • Gout is a type of arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the body.

  • Symptoms include sudden and severe pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in a joint, often the big toe.

  • Treatment involves medications to relieve pain and inflammation during acute attacks and long-term strategies to lower uric acid levels.

  • Lifestyle changes, such as diet and limiting alcohol, play a crucial role in managing gout.

  • Blood Buddy cannot take away the pain but can assist you to track and record when those attacks happen.

By understanding gout and taking proactive steps to manage your uric acid levels, you can minimize flare-ups and live a more comfortable life.