You might have heard about gout as a disease of kings but the rich and famous are not the only ones who can suffer from this potentially debilitating disease. In fact, gout can affect anyone at any age. However, there are more male gout patients than female ones. The initial attack typically manifests in the big toe and it can last for several days. Even without the help of any gout treatment, symptoms can eventually disappear and the attack may not happen again in weeks, months or years. It is also possible that you will not experience a gout attack ever again.
This disease is often believed to be caused by an inherited abnormality, causing the body to inefficiently process uric acid. Studies show that too much intake of purine-rich foods can further elevate uric acid levels in the body. In severe cases, recurring gout attacks over an extended period can cause damage to your joints and might even lead you to losing mobility. While gout pain and other symptoms can disappear without the use of any form of treatment, it still helps that you become aware of the common methods for gout treatment so you can keep yourself from being seriously affected by this awful disease.
Treatments for gout are often aimed at putting an end to gout attacks. They are also meant to reduce or eliminate pain and inflammation in a fast and safe way. Treatments for gout are also often resorted to help prevent future attacks and to keep patients from having to suffer from its many complications, including the development of tophi, formation of kidney stones, and destruction of the joints.
While gout can often be treated successfully and without encountering any severe complication, gout treatment often becomes a challenge if the patient is suffering from other conditions along with gout. In other cases, treatment also becomes more of a challenge if the patient does not totally comply with the recommended medication regimen or lifestyle changes.
Gout treatment can come in the form of dietary alterations, wherein patients are asked to avoid purine-rich foods. It can also be in the form of preventive measures including adequate fluid intake (preferably water), weight loss, controlled alcohol consumption, and the intake of medications that help reduce hyperuricemia. The most common medications for gout include NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, colchicines, corticosteroids, allopurinol, adrenocorticotropic hormone or ACTH, probenecid, and sulfinpyrazone.
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A gout picture shows the swelling of the joints caused by uric acid crystals deposited in the joints and tendons. See picture of gout.
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