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Home Remedies What is Gout?

What is Gout and How to Deal With It?

Gout( crystal-induced arthritis) is a  condition in which uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints. Gout is kind of arthritis that results from too much uric acid in the blood stream. It occurs when either too much uric acid is made or the kidneys cannot excrete even the normal amount of the uric acid from the body.

Let us understand how uric acid is formed in the body and then how the uric acid crystals accumulate on the joints.

Uric acid is produced when the body breaks down waste products. Uric acid gets dissolved in the blood. It passes through the kidneys into the urine. When kidney doesn’t let uric acid pass through urine, uric acid level in the blood over years raises to such an extent that uric acid crystals form and deposit in joints and other tissues. This inflames the joint lining, resulting in sudden and severe attacks of pain.

Gout can cause extreme pain in the areas affected and is one of the oldest forms of arthritis and also one of the most frequently recorded medical illnesses throughout history.
The large joint of the big toe is usually the most affected joint by gout. However, other joints, such as the knee, ankle, foot, hand, wrist and elbow also get affected. The shoulders, hips or spine are rarely affected.

Gout is often an inherited abnormality.  Elevated uric acid levels (hyperuricemia) in the blood can also cause kidney stones and lead to kidney failure in addition to causing gout. However, some patients may only develop elevated blood uric-acid levels without ever getting arthritis or kidney problems.

Gout is many times more common in men than in women. It affects males after puberty  and females after menopause.

Gout is known since ancient times ad is called the disease of kings, because rich diet is one of the main reasons for gout. Gout can progress causing damage to joints and eventually may cause disability. However, with proper treatment, most people with gout are able to control it and prevent long-term damage to the joints and associated disability.

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