Benefits of Whey Protein for Gout Sufferers?

                

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So, your big toe is red, swollen, and the pain emanating from it is some of the most intense you?ve ever felt. It sure sounds like you?ve come down with a case of gout, but how can you be sure?

The first symptom most gout sufferers feel is the pins and needles sensation that is normally associated with your foot ?falling asleep?. This can be linked to gout?s association with poor blood flow to the limbs.

The next common sign is the appearance of swelling and inflammation in the foot. Sometimes there is a distinct redness to the joint, other times there is only the swelling.

The final symptom to show is usually the excruciating pain associated with gout. Your toe (or other joints that have been infected) will progress to the point where anything touching it will cause extreme pain, even a blanket.

At this point, most of us would be off to the doctor?s office for a diagnosis. Most of the medical tests that you would undergo in a doctors office revolve around measuring the amount of uric acid you have in your body. Uric acid is the nasty little chemical that you need in your body, but when levels get too high, gout can result. The tests are broken down like this:

? A urine test. A doctor will collect a urine sample and then test if for higher than normal levels of uric acid.

? A blood test. A doctor will withdraw blood to see if your uric acid levels are too high

? Joint fluid removal. Definitely the most painful of the three options, a doctor will insert a needle into the joint that is swollen and infected to see if either a high level or uric acid is present or if the small crystals associated with gout are present. It?s suggested that this test be a last resort.

If the doctor confirms the presence of gout, you?re now left with the problem of how to treat it. There are many old-fashioned treatments available for gout, but the newest and fastest way is actually with whey protein.

Whey protein has been on the forefront of all-natural medicine for years, and more and more doctors are beginning to see the benefit. High-quality whey protein (not the stuff bodybuilders use during their workouts, this whey protein is of a much higher quality) is filled with protein and amino acids.

Why is this important for gout sufferers? Whey protein contains high amounts of lactoferrin, which helps the body heal faster. The high amount of amino acids in whey protein also help push the body towards optimum health quickly so that the immune system can take on and beat the gout faster and easier.

While there is no cure-all for gout, medical science is on the march looking for possible new treatments all the time. The discovery of whey protein?s rejuvenating affects on the human body are a step in the right direction towards eliminating gout once and for all.

Lisa McDowell has an interest in Gout. For further information on Gout please visit Gout or Gout Symptoms .

The 8 Signs And Symptoms Of Gout

                

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Gout generally starts by developing in the joint of the big toe, which is called the hallux. Some of the symptoms of gout are inflammation of the joints affected, pain and redness of the area which gout has occurred, stiffness in the joints affected, and swelling around the joints affected.

Some of the other symptoms or signs of gout can be found throughout the body these may include pain and swelling in areas such as: the big toe, ball of the foot, arch of the foot, ankle, knee, knuckle, wrist, elbow, and hip. Some of the more clear cut signs that gout has occurred are: gouty arthritis, tophi (hard lumps that are under the skin and happen around the joints affected), Hyperuricemia, skin lumps, arthritis of one joint, arthritis attacks which are rapidly onset, and recurrent arthritis attacks.

When moving or touching a toe that has been affected by gout it is severely painful and by not letting it breath or by keeping it covered it can become even more painful. Gout is a disease in which the symptoms develop at a quick pace. Many times the symptoms occur in one day and generally it only occurs in one joint at a time.

It?s pretty rare if symptoms of gout develop in two or three joints at the same time. When widespread symptoms occur like this it is more than likely not gout. But if symptoms are left untreated and it is gout than it is very serious, as gout can permanently damage joints and even cause disability. This is why it?s vital to not delay in getting gout diagnosed. If you feel you are displaying any gout symptoms your best course of action would be to make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

Once you?ve got yourself along to the doctors there are four common methods for pinpointing the disease.

1. Medical history review and a physical examination ? Your physician should look at your family history and personal medical history. A clear indication of gout can be tophi, which are lumps under the skin, as well as a red shiny area above the affected area. There are some conditions besides gout in which these symptoms occur so a thorough medical examination is needed.

2. Blood test ? A blood test is important as it can determine the amount of uric acid in the blood. However, this isn?t always the best method for diagnosing gout, as high uric acid in the blood does not always mean you have gout. Also if a person is currently undergoing a gout attack uric acid levels in the blood can be in the normal range.

3. X-Rays ? Tophi crystals show up in x-rays as they can be seen under the skin. Many times though x-rays can miss affected joints as they can have gout but appear to look normal.

4. Arthrocentesis ? The most reliable method of diagnosing gout is by using arthrocentesis. Basically a sample of the synovial fluid is taken from the affected joint via syringe and needle. This synovial fluid is then looked at under a microscope and if there is a presence of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the fluid than you have gout.

Once you have a firm diagnosis of gout, you can take steps to keeping the condition under control.

Lisa McDowell has an interest in Gout. For further information on Gout please visit Gout or Gout Symptoms

Common Causes of Gout: Sometimes They're Not Easy to Avoid

                

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Gout is certainly not a fun condition to have. It's a common rheumatic disease and it counts rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis among its close cousins. Figures show that some 840 people out of 100,000 are afflicted with this disease, most of them men. Just what are the causes of gout, and are there any effective ways to avoid it? More often than not, gout is a result of lifestyle choices, but there are other factors that contribute to the disease's occurrence.

A condition called hyperuricemia is one of the causes of gout. This is when the body fails to eliminate excess amounts of uric acid. Some people are born with a genetic metabolic defect in which they not only produce extra uric acid, but they fail to excrete it efficiently as well. This is bad because excessive amounts of uric acid will lead to the formation of uric crystals, which will then become embedded in the joints and the tissue surrounding them. These crystals are also known as tophi, and they are the cause of joint inflammation and pain. Gout usually appears in the joint of the big toe, but it can also become manifest in joints in the ankles, feet, knees, wrists, hands, and elbows. Pictures of a gouty toe almost always show the same characteristics: swelling and redness, and as you can probably imagine, pain.

Gout can also be caused by certain medications, such as thiazide diuretic drugs, which are prescribed for heart failure and hypertension. Figures show that the majority of people who use this kind of drug acquired gout later in life. Other drugs that may contribute to a higher risk for gout are immunosuppressants (such as cyclosporine), low doses of aspirin, and pyrazinamide, an anti-tuberculosis agent. Gout is also strangely related to organ transplantation. Heart and liver transplants can heighten the risk, but perhaps it's a kidney transplant that poses the greater risk, since renal problems can prevent the elimination of uric acid from the body.

A number of health problems have been shown to lead to gout. Certain cancers or diseases involving blood-manufacturing organs are specifically cited, such as lymphoma and leukemia. A skin disease called psoriasis has likewise been linked to the emergence of gout in a number of people. And over-exposure to lead does not only cause birth defects and blood poisoning, it can lead to gout as well. Another all too common health problem among many people, especially those in the West, is obesity. Being overweight can cause not only gout, but other diseases as well, including diabetes, hypertension, and other forms of arthritis.

From obesity, we move to related causes of gout, specifically dietary and food habits. There are many types of food that have large amounts of purines, or substances that play a large role in uric acid production. It's kind of disturbing to find out that most foods that are rich in protein and fat also have a high purine content. But in today's fast-paced mode of life, this is just the kind of food that we're accustomed to eating! To further reduce the risk of acquiring gout, one should also refrain from taking in too much organ meats or sweetbread (including heart, kidney, and liver delicacies). Some seafoods, such as scallops, mackerel, and mussels are also dietary no-no's because these too are rich in purines. Intake of high-fat dairy foods should also be curtailed, including comfort foods like ice cream, butter, and cheese.

Alcoholic beverages should strictly be avoided or at least restricted to an occasional glass or two. This is because alcohol has a high purine concentration and contributes in significant ways to the body's production of uric acid. Not only does it spur the body on to produce more uric acid, but it also affects the ability of the kidneys to flush out excess amounts of this substance. Plus, alcohol is fattening, and we know that surplus weight can also lead to gout.

Though scientists are as yet uncertain about how gout really occurs, they have discovered that the causes of gout can be genetic or environmental in nature, as discussed above. Knowing the things and events that can cause the disease would be a big step in reducing one's risk of acquiring it.

Rheumatiq.com provides you with information on rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, arthritis help, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, causes of gout, and gout treatments. We want to help battle the pain.http://www.rheumatiq.com/