Is There a Gout Cure? Treatments to Consider and Use

                

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Gout is one of those conditions that have been around for so long that it's nearly impossible not to have a cure by now. Unfortunately, that is exactly the case. Modern science has not come up with an exact cure and millions of people still suffer from its symptoms and complications.

However, like most conditions with no cure, gout can be treated. There are various drugs and therapies that can be utilized to alleviate its symptoms and provide the patient a quality of life that will allow him to live comfortably in spite of his condition. First, gout must be understood first and various treatments discussed.

The cause of gout

Uric acid is considered the main culprit in gout cases. In healthy individuals, it is normally dissolved in the blood. However, if its level increases, it can cause an abnormality in the chemical functions of the body. Uric acid can form urate crystals and can cause painful inflammation if they accumulate in the joints.

A high level of uric acid in the blood is a condition referred to as hyperuricaemia. Sharp, needle-like uric acid crystals become deposited in joint spaces and/or connective tissues, causing swelling, pain, redness and stiffness. These uric acid deposits are called tophi.

Are you candidate for gout?

Almost 20% of people suffering from gout have family members who have this disease. It is also more common in adults and men. While weight is not a direct cause of gout, it can also contribute to an increase in risk. Another factor that can increase the risk of gout is excessive alcohol intake.

Treating Gout

Currently, there is no known single cure for gout which can totally eradicate the condition once and for all. However, it can be treated with success and many patients with gout are living pain-free lives. The key is treating it in its early stages, so that unnecessary pain may be avoided in the long term. Immediate action can also relieve symptoms within a day of the attack.

Medications

To combat pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs might be prescribed. NSAIDs help reduce the swelling and block a chemical called prostaglandin, which is responsible for causing pain and inflammation. Other drugs that may be prescribed to block pain and bring down swelling are colchicines and adrenocorticotropic hormones (ACTH).

If a patient shows intolerance for NSAIDs, corticosteroids may be prescribed instead. These also help ease joint inflammation. Drugs like allopurinol that lower or prevent the production of uric acid may also be used for long term treatments and are usually prescribed to older patients.

Fluid intake

On top of the 8 glasses of water intake a day, it is recommended that gout patients add at least 4 more glasses to help the body excrete toxins. Water helps the kidneys eliminate uric acid through urine.

Obesity

Pain caused by gout can be alleviated by regulating weight. Excessive weight means that there are more tissues susceptible to breakdown and that the body will produce more uric acid. A lighter body will also be easier on the joints, specifically on the knees and ankles.

Diet

Some foods, while healthy, can aggravate the symptoms of gout. These foods include excessive intake of red meats and organ meats like tongue, tripe, livers and kidneys. Other foods that can worsen gout symptoms are shellfish, mussels, oysters, scallops and fish roe.

Some vegetables have also been implicated in gout attacks, like dried beans, peas and mushrooms. A low-fat diet can also be helpful, since some studies show that the foods linked to problems with cardiovascular functions are the same foods responsible for gout.

If you are susceptible to gout or are already suffering from it, it's best to stay away from crash diets. While they may help you lose weight in a short period of time, they can also induce the production of too much uric acid, which won't help your condition.

Medications for hypertension

Drugs used to treat high blood pressure may also contribute to the intensity of symptoms. If you are a patient suffering from both gout and hypertension, you will need to change your diet and check with your doctor about possible drug alternatives.

Beware of quick and miraculous cures

You've probably seen the ads for these drugs, supplements and devices, promising immediate relief and total cures. Most of them may not be harmful but may not effect any relief at all and be a complete waste of money. If there is something that interests you, better seek the advice of your doctor before considering other forms of treatment.

What's being done

Just because a cure has not been discovered yet doesn?t mean that scientists and doctors have stopped trying. More research is being done to find better medicines and further clinical studies are being conducted. The purpose of course is to learn our more about gout and ultimately find the cure.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://gout.topicgiant.com where you can learn more about gout and explore different gout remedies.

Natural Ways To Alleviate Symptoms Of Gout

                

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Gout is a type of arthritis which is characterized by sharp shooting pains in the joints often affecting the big toe but also other joints as well and can last for a short time or days. The pain is caused by a build up of sodium urate crystals in the cartilage and tendons of your joints and can be extremely painful. Gout is persistent and can come in attacks, months or years apart. It typically starts and one joint but over the years can affect many joints and is accompanied by swelling and redness in the area.

While no one knows why a particular person may get gout, it is caused by too much uric acid in the body. if you eat a diet consisting of a lot of foods that are high in purines and chances are your body will produce too much uric acid. Therefore, one natural way to fight go is to avoid foods high in purines. these foods include red meats, liver, sardines, kidney, gravy, game meats, muscles, anchovies, sweetbreads, asparagus, shrimp, scallops, mackerel, hearing, beans, spinach and yeast.

Another dietary change that you can make to help treat gout is to avoid drinking alcohol. a study at Mass General Hospital showed that men who denied alcohol were 2.5 times more likely to get gout. beer was the worst offender in verse could be raised even by drinking as little as 10 g per day.

Cherries and cherry juice are delicious natural way to treat gout. Cherries contain flavenoids which help to reduce the high uric acid levels that lead to gout. it seems that canned cherries worked just as good as fresh and sweet works just as good as the sour. eating as few as 10 carries the day has been found to work but if you don?t like cherries you might try a tablespoon of Cherry juice concentrate.

Other natural ways to alleviate go include putting a poultice on the affected area. Some people say that a poultice of leeks helps but a charcoal poultice can work wonders too. To make a poultice you need activated powdered charcoal and ground flax seeds - mix about a quarter cup charcoal with a tablespoon of the flax seeds add in a little warm water and mix until it makes the paste. Apply to the joint and change every couple of hours. The charcoal helps to draw toxins away from the body and can also be used as a bath or simply eaten!

Perhaps the best natural remedy for gout is to simply change your lifestyle a bit. Avoid foods that are high in purines like those listed above and limit alcohol intake. It is also important to make sure that you drink plenty of water and eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Changing your dietary habits will not only help prevent attacks of gout but it will also add to your overall health and you may soon find yourself with the added bonus of extra energy, less illness, and a little bit of weight loss!

Lee Dobbins writes for http://gout.topicgiant.com where you can learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatments for gout.

Gout Vs Diet

                

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The cause of gout is a high blood level of uric acids which is a waste product. The waste product is a breakdown of purines which are substances naturally found in your body. Purines are also found in several types of food.

The treatment of gout, in times past, included very strict dietary regiments but because of medications that are used to combat gout the regiments are not as harsh as they once were.

There still are some recommended dietary modifications though as they can greatly help your chances of avoiding gout flare-ups. Many medications for gout cause many, potentially serious, side effects so dietary modifications can be a better option than the medications.

Some of the foods that are high in purines and should be avoided are liver, brain, kidney, sweetbread, anchovies, peas, beans, mackerel, mincemeat, scallops, muscles, and herring. Other foods such as poultry, meat, and fish have lesser amounts of purines so it is suggested that they be eaten in moderation.

Other ways that you can lower the risk of gout naturally are:

1. Avoiding alcohol altogether or only drinking it in moderation, perhaps saving yourself for special occasions only. Drinking a lot of alcohol increases the risk of hyperuricemia, as the alcohol gets in the way of the natural removal of uric acids from the body. If you have gout and especially if you are having a gout attack alcohol should be avoided completely.

2. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids to flush the system of uric acids. Aim for around 2 liters of water a day, more if you are exercising or have a physical job.

3. Try to maintain a healthy weight. The more excess weight you are holding the more stress is then put on your joints increasing the possibility of gout.

4. Try to lose excess weight but do not do so by rapid weight loss diets as they can increase uric acid levels in the blood. In weight loss also avoid low-carb diets as they are high in fat and protein. Consuming too much of these types of foods can increase your chances of developing hyperuricemia.

Foods that are low in purines will help in keeping gout at bay. Below is a list of foods which are low in purines.

1. Breakfast ? Cereals and breads, coffee, tea, oatmeal, eggs, fruits, juices, cheese (low fat), milk, and peanut butter.

2. Lunch ? Nuts and peanut butter, pasta macaroni, soups, cream style soups, cheeses (low fat) and broths

3. Dinner ? Pasta, macaroni, eggs, vegetables, breads and cereals, low-fat cheeses and soups.

Other foods and food items low in purines are gelatin, fats and oils (in small amounts), soda, sugar, syrups, and other sweets in moderation.

As with anything, moderation is the key to a low purine diet. Some foods which have a moderate purine level are: beef, lamb, pork, vegetables such as mushrooms, asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, wheat germ, all types of yeast and gravies.

It is ok to have these foods as long is it is in moderation. Even foods that are high in purines can be eaten occasionally unless you have gout or are having an attack of gout.
Lisa McDowell has an interest in Gout. For further information on Gout please visit Gout or Gout Symptoms .