What is gout and what are the symptoms to look out for?
Cases of gout are surging across the UK, with cases in the North West up by a massive 960%. The painful type of arthritis was once nicknamed ‘the disease of kings’ but now experts believe our modern diet of processed foods is causing more people to develop the condition. So what are the symptoms to look out for and can it be treated at home? Dr Sara has everything you need to know.
What exactly is gout?
Gout is a painful type of arthritis, also known as ‘the disease of kings’, which often affected middle aged men in the Victorian era who ate rich foods and drank alcohol such as port. * The condition was originally linked with rich families and royalty - Monarchs including King Henry the VIII and Queen Victoria both suffered from it.
Gout is caused by having too much uric acid (urate) in your blood. This can lead to crystals forming around your joints, which causes pain.
Urate is a byproduct of the body digesting a substance called purine, a chemical found in high levels in certain foods including red meat, gravy, beer, sugary drinks and others.
Are some people at higher risk of getting gout?
Anyone can suffer from gout, and it can also be hereditary. You might have a higher chance of getting gout if you:
Are overweight
Drink alcohol
Have been through the menopause
Take medicines such as diuretics (water tablets), or medicines for high blood pressure (such as ACE inhibitors)
Have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, kidney problems, osteoarthritis of diabetes
Have had surgery or an injury
What are the main symtoms?
Sudden severe pain in a joint – usually your big toe, but it can be in other joints in your feet, ankles, hands, wrists, elbows or knees
Hot, swollen, red skin over the affected joint – redness may be harder to see on black or brown skin. * An attack may last 1 to 2 weeks if left untreated. If you do not get treatment, future attacks may last even longer. Leaving gout untreated may cause lasting damage to joints.
What can trigger a gout attack?
An illness that causes a high temperature.
Drinking too much alcohol or eating a large, fatty meal.
Getting dehydrated.
Injuring a joint.
Take certain medicines like diuretics, beta-blockers, niacin (Vitamin B3) and some chemotherapy medicines.
What are the simple remedies people can try at home?
Rest and raise the limb
Keep the joint cool with ice or frozen goods wrapped in a towel for 20 minutes * Drink a lot of water (unless a GP tells you not to)
Keep bed clothes off of the infected joint at night
What happens if gout is left untreated?
You may suffer damage to your joints
Develop hard lumps of urate crystals called tophi under your skin that can have a painful impact on your daily life
* Getting kidney stones
* Suffering from chronic arthritis – but this is rare
What can you do to stop gout from coming back
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can reduce the chances of a further gout attack:
Try to lose some weight
Have alcohol free days each week, and quit/ reduce smoking
Drink water to avoid dehydration
Exercise regularly but don’t over-exert your joints
Ask your GP about vitamin C tablets