Managing Life with Gout
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that is caused mainly by high levels of uric acid in the blood. The disease is characterized by swelling and pain in the joints. While it affects both men and women, it is more common in men.
There are a number of factors that can trigger gout symptoms, such as intake of high-sugar food or beverages. Sometimes the onset of the symptoms is also seen after a trauma or an illness. A number of other factors can increase the risk of a person developing gout. These include medical conditions (heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes), diuretic medications, and bypass surgery.
Managing life with gout can be easy by making some lifestyle changes in diet and by following the course of treatment well. Here are some tips to help patients with gout to avoid triggering or aggravating the condition.
- Gouty arthritis can be prevented by ensuring intake of food that helps lower uric acid levels in the blood and avoiding food that increases uric acid levels. Food items and beverages that are rich in purines should be avoided. Foods that help gout attacks include cherries, items rich in vitamin C, and coffee.
- Staying hydrated is also very important. Drinking plenty of water and other non-sugary liquids can help in flushing out excess uric acid from the body. Drinking plenty of water also helps in maintaining a good rate of metabolism.
- Another important tip for managing life with gout, apart from diet, medications etc, is to not be stressed. Stress can worsen gout symptoms, hence minimizing stress in one’s personal and professional space can be helpful.
- Weight management is also the key to managing life with gout symptoms. Staying physically active reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke as well. But it is important that patients with gout do not exercise when they experience pain or inflammation. Exercising to manage weight should only be done when there are no active gout symptoms.
- Gout patients with chronic gout should not stop taking prescribed medicines even when the symptoms subside. It is important to take the gout medications regularly.
- If you have diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, then getting the blood uric acid levels checked is recommended for patients who have had a previous history of gout symptoms.
Some of the early signs of gout include sudden pain in the big toe which may also be accompanied by swelling. If you notice any signs, consult a doctor to understand what may be causing the pain. Specialists that help in diagnosing and treating gout are mainly rheumatologists, but you can always speak to your regular healthcare provider for guidance. Gout symptoms can be treated in the initial stages itself, to prevent it from turning into a chronic illness.
Keep the above tips in mind if you are a gout patient, or have a history of gout in your family, to prevent triggering or aggravating it. Managing life with gout isn’t that difficult if you follow all the guidelines carefully.
