Characterized by severe pain and swelling in the joints, gout is a common type of arthritis that affects people of all ages. This condition is caused by excess uric acid in the body crystallizing and accumulating in the joints, which makes movement difficult and painful. Although it can affect any joint in the body, the big toe is most commonly affected.
A gout attack can be so severe that it can wake a person in the middle of the night. The affected joint becomes swollen and painful, and joint tenderness also makes it difficult to handle weight. Although the condition cannot be cured, the symptoms can be managed with proper care and timely treatment. This article aims to give you a basic understanding of this condition.
Symptoms associated with gout
In some cases, people have high levels of uric acid in their bodies but don’t show any symptoms related to gout, which means the condition is asymptomatic. In other cases, the condition causes the manifestation of severe symptoms in the affected joints that linger on for anywhere between 3 and 10 days. Patients experience excruciating pain and swollen and warm joints during gout attacks.
Although the condition goes through a remission phase between subsequent flare-ups, wherein a patient might get relief, leaving gout untreated can lead to it becoming chronic.
If left untreated, tophi, which are hard lumps, can start developing in the joints and around the soft tissue and skin around the joints. Additionally, these uric acid deposits can cause irreversible damage to the joints.
Early diagnosis and timely treatment are necessary to prevent the condition from becoming chronic, so one should keep an eye out for the symptoms and consult a doctor at the earliest if they are noticed.
Causes of gout
The breakdown of purines leads to uric acid formation in the body, and the accumulation of excess uric acid leads to gout if the kidneys are unable to filter it. Blood or metabolic disorders can also lead to the production of excess uric acid and, eventually, cause gout. In some cases, dehydration might also play a role in the buildup of uric acid in the body, causing a gout attack.
Additionally, if one suffers from kidney disease or thyroid-related problems, their body may find it difficult to eliminate the excess uric acid, which then crystallizes and accumulates in the joints, causing severe inflammation and pain.
Risk factors associated with gout
When uric acid is present in excessive amounts in the body, it leads to gout, so anything that contributes to increased production of uric acid puts one at risk of developing the condition. Some of the risk factors are mentioned here:
- A diet rich in purines
Following a diet rich in red meat and seafood and consuming sweetened beverages can spike uric acid levels in the body, adding to the risk of this condition. Excessive consumption of alcohol, especially beer, also increases the chances of gout. - Unhealthy body weight
Being overweight or obese leads to excessive production of uric acid in the body, and the kidneys might be unable to filter this excess uric acid. - Family history
Having family members with a history of the condition increases one’s chances of developing it.