Gout FAQs

                

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Over two million Americans are afflicted with the mind-numbing ache in the joints known as gout, and more continue to be added to their number every year. Here are the frequently asked questions and answers regarding gout.

Q: What is gout?

A: Simply put, gout is the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints caused by the body's inability to cleanse itself of uric acid. This retained acid then hardens in the joints, causing very severe pain and swelling. According to some patients, the pain is like having shards of glass embedded in the joint of your big toe.

Q: How do I get it?

A: You can get it several ways. The first factor has to do with diet. A high-protein diet promotes the build up of uric acid in the body. If the body is unable to rid itself of uric acid, then gout will set in. If your diet is rich in shellfish and organ meats, then you are more at risk of getting gout than a vegetarian. Even different cuts of meat within the same animal have different uric acid levels. Chicken legs are higher in uric acid than the chicken breast, for example. Also, beer drinkers are more prone to gout than wine drinkers.

Another potential risk indicator is your family medical history. You are more predisposed to it if either of your parents has gout, especially if your grandparents have it as well. Their genes could be weak against ridding the body of uric acid and they may have passed this weakness on to you.

Other potential risk indicators are weight, age, and gender. Gout attacks overweight people more often than people who are in good shape, and is more likely to occur in men in their forties or fifties than in women.

Q: How do I prevent it?

A: The best defense against gout is a healthy diet. Try to lay off the junk food, and limit your intake of shellfish, liver, and kidney. Eat a balanced diet of lean meat, vegetables, and fruits. Drinking plenty of water helps to rid your system of excessive buildup of uric acid.

It is also a good idea to know your family's medical history. Find out if your parents have gout so you can determine if you are more at risk or not.

In general, it is a good idea to get regular exercise, especially if you want to prevent gout. Some of the uric acid buildup is released in the process of sweating during strenuous activity.

Q: What do I do if I already have it?

A: Ben Franklin had it. Thomas Jefferson and Henry VIII also had it, but it did not prevent them from leading successful lives. It should not prevent you from doing the same either.

If you already have gout, then you should definitely follow the precautions discussed above and continue to have regular,consultations with your doctor. There are many remedies, both pharmaceutical and herbal, that are effective and safe for gout. One simple herbal remedy is boiling a teaspoon of chickweed in a cup of boiling water. Strain out the floating chickweed and take this tea four times a day to prevent the onset of gout attacks. Among pharmaceutical remedies, the generic drug anturane has done wonders for people suffering from this condition.

Gout provides detailed information on Causes Of Gout, Foods That Cause Gout, Gout, Gout Home Remedy and more. Gout is affiliated with Laser Printers.