Preventing Gout Through Your Diet

Diet a key factor in preventing gout.

Courtesy Premier Foot & Ankle

If you suffer from gout, you’ve got historic, even royal, company. Composer Ludwig van Beethoven, painter Leonardo da Vinci, and King Henry VIII were all sufferers. Fortunately, today we have effective treatments for gout, and our knowledge about it is much more advanced.

The podiatry experts at Premier Foot & Ankle are familiar with gout and how you can get relief from its painful symptoms. In this blog, they discuss what causes gout and the treatment options that are available.

What is gout?
Gout is a type of arthritis linked to the accumulation of uric acid crystals in your joints. The most common location for a gout attack is in your big toe joint. Everyone produces uric acid from substances known as purines, which are present in certain foods. Purines are processed by your liver and exit your body in your urine, typically with no difficulty.

However, some people can experience a buildup of uric acid in their blood, and uric acid crystals can consequently build up in joints. Interestingly, some people can have high uric acid levels and suffer no disorder or discomfort. 

Many things can cause high levels of uric acid, including obesity, taking certain medications, and living with certain conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease. Your risk will also be higher if you’re a male, a postmenopausal woman, or have a family history of gout. An injury or surgery may also increase your risk of getting gout.

Gout attacks are often very painful and often come on abruptly. In addition to pain, gout can make your joint swell and even feel hot. 

Effective treatments for gout
At Premier Foot & Ankle, we’ll give you a thorough evaluation, talk about your lifestyle habits, and may order testing, such as X-rays, ultrasounds, or lab testing to ensure gout is the problem. If it is, we’ll design a plan to help you lessen your symptoms and help keep it at bay.

We may prescribe painkillers to ease your discomfort, steroidal or non-steroidal medications to reduce inflammation, and medications to reduce uric acid levels. 

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