Diagnosing and Treating Gout
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis with symptoms like swollen or painful joints. Gout or gouty arthritis can affect both men and women, but it is a common form of arthritis in men over the age of 40 years.
Gout mostly starts as swelling or pain in the big toe or the feet, and a lot of times it starts developing after a trauma or an illness. Gout symptoms, if treated in the primary stage, can be treated effectively. This can also reduce the risk of irreversible damage to the joints.
Causes
The main reason why gout is caused is high levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid gets collected near joints in needle forms which cause pain in the affected areas. Sometimes gout symptoms are also triggered by the intake of high-sugar energy drinks or food items like high-fructose corn syrup. Some of the risk factors that increase uric acid levels are excess alcohol intake, obesity, and a purine-rich diet.
Diagnosis
While rheumatologists are the main specialists for diagnosing and treating gout, there are other specialists like orthopedists and general physicians who can take care of gout cases that are relatively uncomplicated. Gout treatment also involves nephrologists who administer medications for reducing the uric acid level. They make sure that the kidneys are not damaged by the high levels of uric acid.
For diagnosing and treating gout, doctors will get the patient’s family and personal medical history and examine the joints that show symptoms.
When it comes to lab tests, doctors may either ask for a blood test to check the level of uric acid in the blood, or drain the fluid from the affected joints and examine the liquid for any microscopic uric acid crystal formation, or both. The latter test is a preferred method of diagnosing gout as this helps in ruling out conditions like pseudogout or any other joint infection. Pseudogout is another form of arthritis with gout-like symptoms.
Gout treatment and care
As a part of the gout treatment, doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatory medicines like Ibuprofen, or steroids in the form of pills or injection depending on the patient. Some patients may also be given medication for reducing uric acid levels in the blood.
There are a lot of things that can be done to reduce the risk of developing gout or to prevent gout. One of the most important things is to maintain a healthy diet that does not contribute to a higher uric acid level in the body or increase the risk of developing heart disease or stroke (both are common in patients with gout). Some of the food items that help in lowering uric acid levels and reduce the risk of heart disease include low-fat dairy products, whole grain foods, plant oils, and fruits rich in vitamin C. Weight management is also crucial for patients with gout or a history of gout. It is advisable to visit your healthcare practitioner or a rheumatologist for proper guidance on gout management.
