Gout is a very painful condition for the patient. It is a metabolic disease, as a result of which the concentration of uric acid in the blood increases. This means that the uric acid is not excreted to a sufficient extent via the metabolism and remains in the body as a toxin. The result is an accumulation of uric acid crystals (urates) in various parts of the body. Tendons and joints are usually affected, which is why many associate gout with painful and immobile joints.
In fact, joint inflammation and damage is very often one of the negative side effects of this disease. The kidneys and skin can also be affected. An increase in uric acid concentration also promotes the formation of kidney stones. An illness often leads to violent attacks of pain, especially in the beginning. In most cases, the first pain attack is triggered by a particularly large meal or by excessive alcohol consumption.
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triggers of gout
The basic causes of an increased uric acid concentration in the blood can be divided into three subject areas. The disease can usually be traced back to an increased intake of purines. Purines are mainly found in animal food and are produced in the muscles. When food is eaten, the body absorbs these purines and metabolizes them into uric acid. Here lies one of the keys to preventing gout.
A second point is the formation of purines during cell renewal. As in the animal organism, purines are a completely normal part of the human body. Therefore, these two causes only really come into play if the uric acid as a metabolic product is not sufficiently excreted through the kidneys. In the case of gout ( hyperuricemia ), the balance between the production and excretion of uric acid is disturbed.
The doctor differentiates between a congenital metabolic disorder (primary hyperuricemia) and the secondary form. In the first variant, an enzyme defect or a genetic metabolic disease are possible. In the secondary form, other diseases are often involved as a cause.
Signs of gout disease
In most cases, the disease initially only occurs in one specific joint, which is why it is usually not recognized immediately. Usually it is the base joint of one of the two big toes. Other frequently affected joints are the knee and ankle joints and the base joints of the thumb. As a rule, gout diseases first appear in the periphery, since the removal of harmful substances is most difficult there. Gout attacks often occur in the morning hours . The sufferer wakes up in severe pain and registers a swollen joint that is extremely sensitive to touch. This is usually doughy, swollen, discolored and hot. In many cases, the patient also suffers from fever.
In most cases, the signs and symptoms described by the patient lead to the correct diagnosis, since they are characteristic and unmistakable. Based on the very sudden and very acute onset of the condition, the doctor can usually diagnose quite quickly. As a rule, the diagnosis is substantiated by appropriate blood tests, which then document an increased uric acid value without a doubt.
Possible forms of therapy for gout
The therapy against a gout disease usually consists of two parallel measures. On the one hand, the acute symptoms are treated with medication. Colchicine and anti-inflammatory agents are used here, for example. The doctor can prescribe cortisone preparations at this point or, in the worst case, inject them directly into the joint.
Alternatively, there are also various cortisone-free anti-inflammatory drugs to choose from. In addition, the doctor can prescribe medication that inhibits the formation of uric acid in the blood or promotes its elimination via the metabolism. These are often given in combination with medications that lower elevated levels of uric acid.
prevent gout attacks
In addition to drug treatment, which can reduce symptoms and help prevent new gout attacks, active attention can be paid to reducing the risk of gout. For this it is necessary to think about a changed way of life. The patient should adapt his lifestyle and eating habits to the clinical picture. This includes reducing body weight, since in most cases an existing overweight is the cause.
Increased physical activity promotes the reduction of uric acid levels, as does drinking enough fluids throughout the day. But the most important part is changing your eating and drinking habits. The patient should drastically reduce animal protein consumption, meal size, and amount of alcohol to combat the cause and triggering factors at the same time. Purine is also found in some legumes and yeast. A low-purine diet can drastically reduce the risk of having new gout attacks.
