Gout And The Risk Of Kidney Stones

                

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Despite what joints may be affected by gout, this particular form of arthritis can cause another complication ? kidney stones.

What are kidney stones and what causes them? Kidney stones are small masses that are rock-like in substance. They can be small enough to be passed through urination, or large enough to block the flow of urine. Passing kidney stones is often an extremely painful experience that most people don?t soon forget. Kidney stones can occur for different reasons. However, in the case of gout, kidney stones form as a result of too much uric acid in the urine.

Who is most at risk for developing kidney stones? Essentially, anyone who has recurring cases of gout is at risk for developing kidney stones. However, middle aged men, and the elderly (both women and men) are more likely to develop kidney stones, due to the fact that they are the primary gout sufferers, and have higher levels of uric acid.

Furthermore, kidney stones are most likely to occur in those who suffer from secondary gout and primary gout. Approximately 42% of those diagnosed with secondary gout will experience kidney stones. However, only 10 ? 25% of primary gout sufferers will develop stones.

Why is the risk so much higher for secondary gout sufferers? The reason is because unlike those who have primary gout - high levels of uric acid without a known cause, those with secondary gout have high levels of uric acid because of their long-term medication (IE. diuretics, aspirin, levodopa, etc.) or health condition (IE. alcoholism, obesity, diabetes, kidney dysfunction, etc.)

Additionally, people who have experienced kidney stones are more likely to develop stones again in the future.

What are the signs and symptoms of kidney stones? Although in some cases there may be no symptoms at all, most people who suffer kidney stones report the following:
- Sudden extreme painful cramping that occurs in the lower back, side, groin or abdomen.
- Nausea or vomiting caused by severe pain
- Blood in urine
- Fever and chills may occur if there is an infection in the urinary tract

If you have any of the above symptoms, you should visit your doctor or the emergency room to make sure that what you are experiencing is indeed kidney stones.

How are kidney stones treated? Although the sudden onset of pain may compel you to take a trip to the emergency room, the chances are after you?ve been x-rayed and diagnosed, a doctor will likely prescribe you pain medication and tell you to drink plenty of water and wait for the kidney stone to pass naturally. Most stones pass within 48 hours when significant fluid is ingested. Symptoms should stop as soon as stones pass.

If the stone will not pass naturally due to its size, a doctor may perform:
- Lithotripsy ? A common procedure that uses a shock wave to break up the large stone into small pieces so they can be passed.
- Surgery ? there are a few techniques used to surgically remove the stones. These surgeries are often uncomplicated.

How to prevent uric acid kidney stones ? The following are ways a gout sufferer can reduce their risk of developing stones:

- Avoid or limit alcohol intake
- Eliminate or limit foods in your diet that raise uric acid levels such as: organ meat, red meat, shellfish, mushrooms, asparagus, dried peas and beans, etc.
- Drink plenty of water and stay well hydrated all the time
- Exercise regularly
- Loose weight realistically ? If you are overweight or obese avoid crash diets to lose weight quickly. Losing weight too fast can cause a rise in uric acid levels and increase the risk of stones.
- Medication ? Talk to your doctor about medication that can help lower and control uric acid levels.

By Lisa McDowell. Sign up for a free newsletter & discover whether you are experiencing a gout symptom. On the site you'll also find more on proven gout remedy options

Food and Gout: Know What To Avoid

                

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Food and gout can be a dangerous combination. If you suffer from this condition, eating the wrong thing can lead to a painful attack that can last for hours, days, or even weeks.

Gout is a type of arthritis that can strike without warning. And what you eat and drink can make you more prone to gout attacks. So by avoiding, or cutting down on, certain foods and beverages, you can help cut down on your chances of suffering from this painful condition more than you have to.

Gout sufferers should avoid or limit foods that contain purine.

Gout is caused by swelling of the joints. When purines (substances produced naturally by your body, and also found in certain foods) break down, a waste product called uric acid is formed. When your body produces too much, or isn't able to get rid of enough, uric acid, this by-product can build up, causing crystals to form in your joints. The result is gout, and all the pain and inflammation that go with it.

Most foods contain purine. But eating foods high in purine can elevate the amount of uric acid in your system, and lead to a gout attack. Some foods to look out for are:

* Organ meats, like kidney and liver.

* Seafood, like mussels, sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and herring

* Foods rich in protein, like pork roast, poultry, and roast beef.

* Vegetables like asparagus, cauliflower, lentils, mushrooms, and spinach.

* Whole grain breads and cereals, and oatmeal.

You should eat no more than 5 to 6 ounces of lean meat, fish, or poultry a day. If you're suffering from frequent gout attacks, consider cutting down even more on proteins. Also, limiting yourself to one serving a day of other purine rich foods will also help. If you eat oatmeal for breakfast, you might want to pass on having spinach for dinner.

Gout sufferers should avoid or limit alcohol.

Gout sufferers should really try to avoid alcohol. Alcohol not only contains a lot of purine, it also boosts the amount of uric acid produced by your body.

To avoid gout attacks, limit yourself to one drink per day, especially if you're drinking beer, which contains more purine than wine and spirits. If you're having a gout attack, it's best to avoid alcohol all together.

Gout sufferers should drink lots of water.

Drinking lots of water every day has many health benefits, especially for those with gout. Water can help flush uric acid from your system. Drinking plenty of water will also prevent dehydration, which can trigger a gout attack.

Everyone, especially those with gout, should drink at least five or six tall glasses of water every day.

Keep these tips in mind, and you can prevent painful gout attacks before they have the chance to strike.

For more health tips, visit The Tip Trove.

Combating Arthritic Pain with Low Purine Gout Juice Made from Cherries

                

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Gout is a debilitating condition which happens when one accumulates uric acid crystals in joints. Gout can cause pain and immobilization as it attacks joints such as those in the toes, feet, ankles, wrists, elbows, knees, and hands. To some, the pain can just be so unbearable, mere touching the area could be excruciating. Fortunately, people suffering gout may improve their conditions with low purine gout juice.

Perhaps you have heard so much about juice being used to help relieve the symptoms of gout. Indeed millions of gout sufferers? conditions have been improved by this low-purine juice that are made from cherries. In fact, new studies have revealed solid evidences about the effectiveness of cherry juice due to certain compounds that have properties, which fight gout.

Normally, people who have gout are recommended to have a change in their lifestyle, particularly in their diet. While a healthy diet is indeed a good way to decrease the likelihood of gout attacks, mere diet change would never be enough to stop the inconveniences caused by gout. Doctors would prescribe drugs, which may relieve the symptoms but have some unwanted side effects. Fortunately, an alternative treatment for gout is available in the form the low-purine cherry juice.

Why Low Purine Cherry Juice is Good for Gout

Cherry juice is a good addition for a healthy diet to prevent gout. For one thing, it is not only low in purines, it has also been shown to lower uric acid levels in people?s blood. High uric acid levels is one of the main factors that cause gout and it has been shown that regularly consuming cherries can lower urate levels by up to about 15 percent. Patients who responded most to cherry consumption are those who drank cherry juice.

The secret of this remarkable drink are compounds known as anthocyanins. These are substances found in cherry that provide their red pigmentation. Anthocyanins have been found to be quite effective in stopping inflammation, especially those caused by gout. Additionally, anthocyanin has also been found to decrease the risks of colon cancer. This makes drinking low purine cherry juice quite beneficial for everyone.

Experts believe that the anthocyanins found in low purine juice are what relieves the symptoms of gout as the substance lowers urate levels in the blood. Other studies also show promising findings that consuming this juice regularly could also decrease the risks of stroke and heart attack.

There are many kinds of cherry juice being marketed to help gout patients such as black cherry, tart and cherry, and sweet cherry, however they all work quite the same as they all are low in purines and rich with anthocyanins. This is ood news to people who ay have certain preferences regarding the kind of cherries they eat or juice they drink.

Regarding the prescribed dosage of low purine cherry juice, there has not yet been any approved amount for treatment as research about this is still on its early stages. Nevertheless, a lot of reports have revealed that most of the people who gained relief from gout using cherry juice consumed around 2 tablespoons of concentrated cherry juice, which is the equivalent of two servings of cherry fruit. Of course, it can be expected that people would have different responses to natural remedies so the results may vary depending on the gravity of the gout or the patient?s reaction.

To achieve results from low purine cherry juice, normally one would have to consume the drink for several weeks. However, there are some patients who reported improvement within just days.

Gout can be a very painful and discomforting disease that millions of people have been complaining about. In reality, low purine cherry juice has been used all over the world to treat gout, but it is only fairly recently when this remarkable drink has caught the attention of the mainstream.

One might still be skeptical about the real benefits of low purine juice for gout, but it might be worth to try this drink. After all, it is a delicious juice that is at least harmless, and beneficial at best.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://gout.topicgiant.com where you can learn more about gout, the right foods to eat and low purine gout juice.

Joint Symptoms Relating to Gout

                

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It you suffer any symptoms of gout in the joints, it is important that you immediately contact your physician. Gout in the joints is a painful condition that should be treated immediately, with an effective method of treatment. It is for this reason that it is necessary to seek medical attention right away. Some people have a major fear or distrust of doctors; however, if you find the right doctor you will find that dealing with your symptoms and condition is much better than suffering.

Finding the right doctor that you trust could mean the difference between pain and relief. Gout is a condition that can cause intense pain in the sufferer and only a doctor can tell you just what you should do to treat the condition. He or she may offer several different methods of treatment, such as a restricted diet. In many people, their diet will be the direct cause of gout. This may mean that your doctor will prescribe not only medication, if at all, but also a diet that you should follow.

While this will mean eliminating some of the foods, you might love particularly foods high in acids, temporarily or permanently, and it may not be enjoyable, it will also mean relief from the symptoms of gout. Improving your health is far more important than eating foods that are not necessary good for you or your body. If your doctor prescribes a specific diet, you will likely have to meet with a nutritionist. A nutritionist specializes in the areas of diets, foods, and of course, nutrition. The nutritionist will explain to you which foods you should be eating and why. He or she will also explain which foods you should avoid and why.

Knowing the foods that can prove beneficial to your overall health, as well as your condition is essential. At the same time, knowing which foods could lead to gout or make the condition worse, is just as important. Ultimately, whatever method of treatment is prescribed by your physician it is important that you follow it closely and precisely, as it can only mean an improvement in your condition.

Want to learn more about Gout Symptoms?, feel free to visit us at: http://www.about-goat.info/Articles/Gout_Diet.php

Gout: How Do I Know I Have It?

                

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Gout is more prevalent in men who are older than forty, and women who are menopausal. A gout episode typically occurs during the night, and will be accompanied by severe pain and swelling of the affected joint, within twelve to twenty-four hours. These episodes can last upwards of five to ten days. The exact cause of Gout is unknown, but many doctors and scientists speculate that it could have to do with a genetic defect within the metabolism causing an overproduction and retention of uric acid, kidney impairment preventing normal elimination of uric acid, environmental factors like obesity, a purine-rich diet or alcohol abuse, diseases of the blood cells, certain cancers, or the use of water pills.

Episodes of gout are typically triggered by the consumption of too much alcohol, surgery, a sudden or severe illness, injury to a joint, chemotherapy, eating too many of the wrong foods, or surgery.

There are typically four stages that occur with Gout: The Asymptomatic Stage, Acute Stage, Intercritical Stage and the Chronic Stage. The Asymptomatic stage is marked by a rise in urate levels in the blood, but no symptoms are actually present at this time. The Acute stage is the stage where symptoms begin to appear, in the form of sudden attacks of joint pain, swelling, and a dusty or bruised appearance. The symptoms usually last between five and ten days. The Intercritical stage is marked by symptom free intervals wedged between episodes of Gout. It takes most people around six months to two years before they have another episode of gout, but there are others who remain symptom-free for up to ten years. The chronic stage is marked by persistently painful joints that develop large deposits of urate in the cartilage, joint stiffness and limited motion of the affected joint.

Doctors diagnose Gout based on the symptoms that are presented, as well as blood tests that show high levels of uric acid where there should not be, and the finding of urate crystals growing in joint fluid. There is damage to the cartilage and bones on the x-rays of people with chronic gout.

Approximately 75% of the first attacks occur in the big toe, but other joints including the ankle, heel, knee, instep, elbow, fingers and spine can also be affected.

Want to learn more about Gout Diet?, feel free to visit us at: http://www.about-goat.info

4 Common Gout Drugs

                

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It is not generally advised for prescription drugs when treating hyperuricaemia as these drugs are generally used when there is an attack on the kidney stones. The following are four common drugs that are used to keep gout symptoms under control.

1. Allopurinol ? This inhibits uric acid synthesis and has been associated with eruptions of the skin and blood vessels as well as toxins in the liver. Renal function tests and overall complete blood counts of the patient should always be done before giving the patient Allopurinol.

2. Colchicine This drug is used to alleviate gout attacks. But this drug has side effects which can be very serious and in some cases can cause death if the dose is too high. Many stomach problems can occur when taking this drug such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and cramping. Some of the more serious side effects of the drug are problems occurring in the marrow of the bone, inflammation of the muscle, and anemia. If a patient has kidney function problems than Colchicine is generally not used or the doses are adjusted accordingly.

3. Indomethacin ? This drug is an anti inflammatory drug which is not steroid based. Indomethacin is the drug that is used the most when the onset of gout attacks occurs. This drug also has a very high toxicity but by measuring the doses correctly the drug is a one that is very successful in the short term.

4. Prednisone ? Prednisone is a drug that is becoming more widely used these days to treat gout. Prednisone is an immunosuppressive drug that is needed in some cases and is sometimes associated with long term side effects such as bone loss, cataracts, a weakening of the immune system, as well as others. Osteoporosis is a serious side effect that can occur with bone loss. The general side effects are longer healing and longer time fighting infections throughout the body with weakening of the immune system, retention of sodium, acne, night sweats, muscle and bone problems, and higher blood sugar.

As you can see from the above, although drugs will help to alleviate gout symptoms they are not without there side effects. If you are interested in avoiding or limiting the use of such drugs then there are natural ways to treat this condition.

High levels of uric acid in the blood can bring about gout so it is advantageous to try to limit the food intake if it is high in purine. Alcohol should definitely be cut out completely or at least limited as it is very high in uric acids, especially during a flare-up.

One way to help avoid getting gout is to flush out your system by trying to drink at least two to three liters of fluids every day. By drinking lots of fluids you can aid in diluting the uric acids that can bring about gout.

Try to moderate your protein intake such as fish, meat, and poultry. There are other foods rich in proteins which are low in purines such as dairy products and are lower in fat as well, like eggs and even tofu. Try to limit the amount of fat that you eat by choosing meats that are leaner and meats and foods that are prepared with less oil.

By following a diet that takes into account these suggestions it will aid your body in keeping uric acid levels low. If you can keep your gout under control through natural methods it means you can avoid the nasty side effects that come with the gout drugs mentioned above.

Please bear in mind that you should always consult a physician prior to making any dietary changes and you should never stop taking any prescribed medication without gaining physician approval first.

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