What is gout?
Ouch! What is this !@#$ing pain?
So you woke up in the middle of the night holding your big toe and you’re screaming what’s this excruciating tingling pain? Congratulations! You may just have gout!
Gout is a form of arthritis that causes your toes, feet or joints to swell up. This swollen sensation feels like you’re being pierced by 1000 needles every time your foot or toe comes in contact with any surface even by the slightest touch of your bed sheet or blanket.
What causes Gout and why is it so painful?
Gout is caused by increased levels of uric acid that gets deposited between the joints of your feet or your big toe. These uric acid forms crystals causing the surrounding tissue to swell up. If you didn’t know – one of the ancient Chinese tortures was to use a device that causes pain in the joints of your fingers. Having uric acid crystals formed in between your joints is akin to putting a chopstick right between your joints and squeezing real hard. Anyhow, the feeling of pain in your joint is a lot worse than on your skin.
OK, So what REALLY causes gout?
The main reason for gout is that your body is incapable of getting rid of uric acid efficiently. There are some patients who may have inherited this genetically or are suffering from some sort of metabolic disorder. Gout happens mostly in men. Age, obesity, or lack of exercise and inappropriate diets are all contributing factors.
How do you get rid of gout? – short term
Since gout causes inflammation, there are anti inflammatory drugs you can take that will lessen the swollen area. In serious cases you can even go under the knife to have these crystals removed from your joints. These are all short term fixes that do not address the root cause. It’s best to consult a doctor immediately and explain the situation you have and have him prescribe you the right medication.
How do you get rid of gout? – long term
Most gout victims can improve their situation with a change in diet. Consuming less meats, seafood, alcohol and products rich in purine will help lower levels of uric acid in your body. Drinking plenty of water is also recommended to help flush out your bodies uric acid. Another recommendation is to lose weight and do more exercise so that your body can increase metabolism which helps your body rid of these uric acids naturally.
