Gout vs Pseudogout

                

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Sometimes, even if a person lives a healthy lifestyle, abstains from alcohol or drinks it modestly, they can experience a condition that mirrors gout, but is in actuality, a different arthritic condition altogether known as pseudogout. To help you understand the differences between these two, the following is a breakdown of the causes, symptoms and treatments for each condition.

Gout
Gout is a form of arthritis that occurs suddenly, usually affecting the big toe, and causes severe painful attacks, tenderness and redness in the affected joint. An attack can last days or weeks. Gout is caused by a build up of uric acid which turns into uric acid crystals that are deposited into the joints causing them to become inflamed. The first attack of gout often occurs late at night.

A build up of uric acid that develops into gout can result from:
?High alcohol consumption
?Eating excessive food rich in purines such as organ meats
?Crash diets
?Joint injury
?Surgery
?Chemotherapy

The symptoms of gout include:
?Sudden intense joint pain
?Inflammation and redness in the affected joint.
?Swelling
?Difficulty moving affected joint within its normal capacity.

Treatment for gout includes:
?NSAIDs - The most common treatment for gout includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, indomethacin and naproxen. They are used to help alleviate paint and reduce inflammation
?Colchicine ? prescription med that prevents gout attacks from recurring
?Diet ? By controlling what you eat, staying well hydrated and exercising regularly, you can help reduce your uric acid levels and prevent gout.
?Surgery ? This is very rare treatment and is only required if there is significant joint damage from frequent attacks.

Pseudogout
Pseudogout is a form of arthritis that occurs when calcium pyrophosphate crystals accumulate in joints. Although it is sometimes referred to as calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPDD), the disease is called pseudogout due to the fact that its symptoms and crystal build up are similar to gout.

Like gout, pseudogout causes a sudden extreme attack of pain and swelling to specific joints, which can last for days or weeks. However, unlike gout that usually attacks the big toe first, pseudogout is usually present in the knees, but can also affect the shoulder, elbows, wrists, hands, or ankles. Furthermore, pseudogout can become a chronic arthritic condition that feels more like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

It is clear that the development of calcium pyrophosphate crystals is what causes Pseudogout. Eventually, crystals can be deposited into the cartilage of a joint and then begin to damage it, a condition known as chondrocalcinosis. Although medical researchers are not sure why the calcium pyrophosphate crystals occur, it is suspected that the condition may be hereditary or related to:
?Hypothryroidism (underactive thyroid)
?Hemochromatosis (too much iron storage)
?Overactive parathyroid gland
?Low levels of magnesium in the blood
?Hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood)
?Joint injury
?Surgery (either related to a joint or not)

Unlike gout, pseudogout is not necessarily gender specific or diet related, and usually affects 3% of people in their sixties and approximately 50% of those in their nineties.

The symptoms of pseudogout include:
?Swelling of the affected joint
?Severe pain
?Warmth
?Redness

Treatment for pseudogout includes:
?NSAIDs
?Cortisone injections
?Ice therapy, mild exercise and rest
?Surgery ? only occurs if severe damage has been done to the joints.

As you can see, both gout and pseudogout are incredibly painful conditions that result from the build up of crystal deposits in the joints causing inflammation. Essentially, the main difference between the two is the type of crystals.

For more information about Gout diets take a look at Cure Gout Now.

Can Low Carb Diets Cause Gout?

                

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Even though it?s unclear on how someone can decrease their risk of pseudogout, as far as gout is concerned, the best way to reduce the risk is to control your diet and your weight. If you are overweight, it is imperative that you know there is a ideal method to utilise when it comes to shedding pounds for gout prevention.

There is no question that obesity is a major risk factor for gout. Studies on overweight men have shown that the more weight they gain, the higher their risk of developing the condition.

How does obesity contribute to gout risk? Think about it, people who are obese, or considerably overweight, usually lead a sedentary lifestyle, have a diet rich in fatty foods, alcohol and caffeinated beverages that are dehydrating.

Studies have concluded that men, who are overweight, are two times as likely to develop gout, while obese men are three times as likely. It was also discovered that when the overweight men lost only 10 pounds, they decreased their risk of gout by 40 percent!

Now that you know the role weight plays in gout risk, it?s time to take a look at the right way of losing weight to prevent gout, and the wrong way.

The ideal weight loss method
First of all, when it comes to losing weight, it?s not about ?going on a diet?, it?s about making a lifestyle change by transforming what you eat and the amount you ingest. For instance, a healthy diet for the average individual should consist of the following:

? Fresh fruits and vegetables
? Nuts
? Whole grain products (brown rice whole grain cereal/breads/pasta)
? Low fat dairy products
? Fish
? White meat (chicken and turkey with no skin)
? Lots of water

When the above foods are consumed on a regular basis, they lower your intake of cholesterol, saturated fats, trans-fats and high sugared foods such as fried foods, chips, cookies, cake, white rice/pasta/bread, red meat and organ meat. Furthermore, healthy foods provide your body with fish oils, and calories from mono unsaturated fats and poly unsaturated fats. As a special bonus, healthy foods also help to suppress your appetite.

Avoid the low carb weight loss method

One of the most popular diets to be introduced to society over the past few years, as a method to lose weight fast, is the famous low carb diet. Low carb diets, such as the Atkins diet, are about dramatically reducing the daily intake of carbohydrates and replacing them with protein. Although the low carb diet certainly does achieve excellent weight loss results in a short period of time, whether or not it is a healthy choice for your body, is questionable.

Some low carb diets contain high amounts of animal protein, cholesterol and saturated fats, but lack fiber, nutrients and complex carbohydrates that are necessary for the body to maintain ideal health. This has lead many medical researchers to believe that low carb diets actually increase certain health risks such as gout.

Why? Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the body, which can occur from eating too many foods rich in purines - foods that essentially make up a low carb diet. In addition, it is believed that by eating less than 130 grams of carbs per day can cause a build up of ketones in the blood, which can also result in higher levels of uric acid.

Thus, adopting a healthy diet, in combination with regular exercise (IE, daily 20-minute brisk walk), is a great way to lose weight. Sure the results may not be as fast as a low carb diet, but at least you will stay healthy and prevent gout while you?re at it.

For more information about Gout diets take a look at Cure Gout Now

Remedies for Gout Relief

                

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There is no cure for gout, but it can be controlled and treated. Usually, the pain associated with gout will subside within 24 hours after treatment has begun. The main objectives of treatment are pain relieving and prevent future attacks of gout.

Although gout is well known, it is not a typical arthritic condition. Gout is caused by an accumulation of uric acid crystals in joints, causing joint pain and inflammation.

Colchicine is a traditional drug used since the 1800's as a treatment for gout. Although Colhicine produces desirable results, it does have side effects of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are also used to treat gout, which does not have the side effects of colhicine. Indomethacin is a widely used NSAID in the treatment of gout. Patients should avoid Aspirin and aspirin-containing products during the attack of gout.

Those people who have had multiple attacks or developed tophi or kidney stones should stabilize uric acid level in the blood. Probenecid is an important drug, which helps the kidney, eliminate uric acid. Another drug called Alopurinol is used to block the excess production of uric acid by the body. The drug of choice between these types of drugs depends upon the quantity of uric acid excreted through urine.

Zyloprim, is a potent treatment for gout, and is usually prescribe for gout patients with kidney stones or other kidney problems. This drug slows down the rate of production of uric acid by the body. The patients who took this drug showed side effects such as skin rashes and stomach upset. Both of these symptoms usually go away as the body began accustomed to the drug.

As we know, prevention is better than treatment; avoiding the intake of food high in uric acid can readily prevent the occurrence of gout. Reducing alcohol consumption is also often helpful.

Alcoholic beverages should not exceed 3 ounces per day. Reduce or eliminate the purine-containing foods such as organ meats (sweet breads, liver, and kidneys), shrimp, sardines, dried legumes, and anchovies.

There are many natural products available in the market. Incorporate flax seed or omega 3 oil into your diet to help reduce inflammation and tissue damage. Burdock root can help rid the body of acidic waste build up and help supports normal uric acid levels in the body.

If you suffer from gout, see your doctor and discuss a pain relief program and a correct diet to reduce gout occurrences. With correct treatment and diet, gout outbreaks can be well controlled.

For more information about gout, visit http://www.goutinfocenter.com and http://www.naturalherbalremediesinfo.com

David Chandler For your FREE Stock Market Trading Mini Course: "What The Wall Street Hot Shots Won't Tell You!" go to: http://www.stockmarketgenie.com