How To Prevent Gout
Some things that increase the risk of gout are out of your control your age, gender and family history for example.
However, your body weight and diet are also important factors.
The rise in gout in recent years is linked to our widening waistlines.
Being overweight, eating fatty foods and consuming too much alcohol are established triggers of flares of gout.
And although losing weight and avoiding certain foods may not be the magic answer to how to get rid of gout, it may help to reduce the likelihood of a future attack.
Foods Contributing To Chronic Disease
Remember, the development of gout is also influenced by other chronic diseases including high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, heart failure and obesity. Studies have shown that losing weight lowers the risk of the disease.
Therefore preventing and treating gout means preventing and treating these other chronic diseases as well as effective weight management. While there are certainly some exceptions, the development and treatment of these chronic diseases is also strongly rooted in diet.
Salt
High salt diets are strongly associated with hypertension and congestive heart failure. A diet low in salt is a well described treatment for people with these conditions and is literally prescribed for this purpose.
The DASH diet is the most popular of these to date, and people who follow the DASH diet have been shown to have lower rates of gout .
Saturated Fats
Saturated fats such as fried foods are generally unhealthy choices. They contribute a significant amount of cholesterol and calories while providing very little positive nutritional value. They are a large culprit in the obesity epidemic and the associated comorbid disease.
Processed Foods
Its recommended to use caution with processed foods because they so frequently contain either high levels of salt, sugar, saturated fat, empty calories or a combination of some or all of the above.
How Will Gout Affect Me
Attacks can vary from person to person. Some people only have an attack every few years, while others have attacks every few months.
Without medication attacks tend to happen more often and other joints can become affected.
Having high urate levels and gout for a long time can lead to other health problems, including:
- narrowing of the arteries which can lead to an increased risk of stroke or heart attacks or other heart problems
- osteoarthritis, which occurs when the urate crystals and hard tophi cause joint damage.
- an increased risk of developing kidney disease or worsening of the condition if you already have it
- kidney stones
- an increased risk of some cancers, especially prostate cancer
- mental health problems, including depression
- underactive thyroid
- erectile dysfunction in men.
If you take medication to lower your urate levels, and have a healthy diet and lifestyle, most of the damage and complications caused by gout can be stopped.
Treatments for gout are incredibly successful. There are two main parts to treating gout, which are:
- treating the acute attack
- treatments to prevent future attacks.
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How Gout Treatment Prevents Disease Progression
Fortunately, in part because of its long history, gout is one of the most well-understood and most medically treatable forms of arthritis. The progression of gout is preventable by starting appropriate treatment as soon as possible, Dr. Meysami says. Uric acid-lowering agents, such as allopurinol , can decrease uric acid levels and prevent gout attacks.
During flares, gout patients can take NSAIDs or corticosteroids to calm the attack. Local steroid injections may also be given. A medication called colchicine is also often used to stop acute attacks, but its given now at a much lower dose in order to avoid side effects, including stomach upset.
After a flare ends, long-term treatment can begin. Almost all people with gout will need medication to control their urate, Dr. Fields says. To get a good outcome, people with gout need to get their blood urate level below 6.0 mg/dl and keep it there. By doing that, the body will gradually pull the urate crystals out of their joints, and the flares can stop. Tophi will also gradually disappear.
Medications called xanthine oxidase inhibitors limit the amount of uric acid your body produces. These include allopurinol and febuxostat . Colchicine, which decreases the inflammatory response to gout, may also be given along with allopurinol at the start of long-term treatment after a flare subsides.
Home Care For A Gout Flare
If your doctor has diagnosed you with gout and given you medicine for a flare-up, take the medicine as directed when you know youâre having one. In most cases, that will probably be as soon as the first signs begin.
Your doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as celecoxib, indomethacin, meloxicam, or sulindac or suggest you take over-the-counter NSAIDs, like naproxen or ibuprofen. Depending on your medical history, your doctor may prescribe steroids or other medicines to reduce inflammation, such as colchicine .
In some cases, you already may be taking medicine like colchicine to prevent gout flare-ups. Your doctor may have also suggested:
If you canât take allopurinol or it is not effective, your doctor may prescribe . It should be used with caution, however, because it has been linked to increased risk of death from heart disease and from other causes.
Just because you have a flare doesn’t mean these medicines aren’t working. In the first few months that you take them, you may have an attack as your body adjusts to the drug. Your doctor will likely have given you something to take if this happens, too.
If youâve been taking preventive gout medicine for a long time and youâre having flares for the first time in a while, call your doctor. They may talk to you about changing your dosage or your medicine.
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Using Natural Remedies For Gout
Gout is a type of arthritis characterized by sudden, intense pain, redness, heat, swelling, and tenderness in the joints. Gout usually affects the large joint of the big toe, but symptoms can occur in your feet, ankles, knees, hands, and wrists. Attacks typically last about five to 10 days. Gout is more common in men than in women.
Gout is caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals, a waste product that’s formed from the breakdown of purinessubstances found naturally in the body and in foods such as organ meats, asparagus, anchovies, herring, and mushrooms.
So far, scientific support for the claim that any natural remedy can treat gout is limited.
Is High Fructose Corn Syrup A Problem
Yes, absolutely. High-fructose corn syrup is a known factor for gout flare-ups because it raises uric acid levels in your body. Its also used in far more pre-packaged and processed foods than you might think. When youre grocery shopping, always check nutrition labels. If corn syrup is an ingredient in a product, dont buy it.
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What To Eat To Get Rid Of Gout
By | Submitted On April 24, 2010
As a gout victim you need to watch what you eat to get rid of gout. Gout and diet are linked. Here, you will discover foods you can eat to get rid of gout. And you will also get to know which foods to avoid to help eliminate your gout.
CAUSES OF GOUT
Gout is the result of uric acid crystals in your joints and tissue around your joints. These crystals form when you have high uric acid in your blood.
Uric acid is produced by the metabolization of ‘purines’ in your body cells and foods. Purines are chemical compounds that help produce your energy and protein needs among other things beneficial to you.
Note that purines exist in our foods at different concentrations depending on the food type. As a rule of thumb, high protein foods and foods high in fat contain the highest levels of purines.
FOODS NOT TO EAT TO GET RID OF GOUT
So, foods to avoid to get rid of gout are, generally speaking, fatty red meat, organ meat, game, fish, shellfish and legumes, plus, yeast and alcohol . But even within these there are varying purine levels…
You should definitely avoid all fatty red meat, venison, pork, burgers, bacon, etc., and, organ meat such as liver, heart and kidneys, etc. Although it has been suggested that a maximum of 6 ounces of lean meat may be consumed daily.
All shellfish and fish like mackerel, herring, sardines, anchovies and roe, should also be avoided. But other fish like tuna can be taken in small quantities because of omega3 benefits.
How To Get Rid Of Gout With Your Diet
Gout has literally been referred to The Disease of Kings because it has been associated with indulging excessively in food and alcohol, which was historically thought to be a privilege of royalty.
Acute flares of pain usually require anti-inflammatories and other medications in addition to diet.
Learning how to decrease flairs or prevent gout all together requires focusing on food.
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Shopping List For Gout
What to put in your cart and what to pass up when planning your gout diet.
A diet to lower uric acid levels, along with medications prescribed by your doctor, makes gout one of the most controllable forms of arthritis. While you should always discuss the merits and drawbacks of specific foods with your doctor, use this shopping checklist as a general guide to food choices to improve your overall health, lower uric acid levels and reduce your risk of painful gout attacks. Put in Your Cart
- Skim milk.
- Low-fat dairy products .
- Whole-grain products .
- Plant oils .
- Vegetables.
- Cherries.
- Vitamin C supplements .
- Coffee .
- Water bottles .
Pass Up
- Red meat and organ meats .
- Shellfish such as shrimp and lobster.
- Refined carbohydrates .
- Processed foods .
- Sugary beverages.
- Alcohol .
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What Foods Help Get Rid Of The Gout: What You Need To Know
Gout is becoming more and more common and its one of the worst issues to have
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Gout Vs Pseudogout: How Can We Tell
Pseudogout is inflammatory arthritis caused by the. the build-up of calcium crystals in joints. As the name suggests, pseudogout looks like gout.
Generally, it can be challenging to differentiate between the two. However, there are clues as to whether symptoms are pseudogout or gout.
First, unlike gout, pseudogout tends to affect older people in their 60s and 70s. Second, pseudogout affects the knees, ankles, and wrists rather than the toes. Finally, attacks of pseudogout can last for many weeks and sometimes months rather than days in gout.
Risk Factors For Gout
You are Mori or Pacific
Many Mori and Pacific people have genes that make it harder to get rid of uric acid from their bodies.
Your doctor has told you you have high uric acid levels
Uric acid is a chemical that everyone has in their body. Some people have higher uric acid levels than others. High levels of uric acid can turn into gout.
You can reduce your uric acid levels by keeping active, staying fit, keeping your weight down, eating a healthy diet and not drinking beer and sugary drinks.
You have a family history of gout
If people in your family have gout then you have a higher chance of getting gout.
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Please Let Us Know Your Problems Or Successes With Gout
Linda Robinson from Cicero, New York on May 27, 2016:
Good Morning J Cielo Such an amazing helpful hub. I really enjoyed it and it is definitely a must read for all those that have ever suffered with it and someone they know. So nice meeting you. I truly look forward to reading more of your talented and exceptional work. Linda
Dom on April 20, 2016:
Wow its so nice of people who share there pain makes you feel your not on your own . I am looking for a list of food andveges that i can eat to move my gout not sure what vegetables to eat and what meat to eat if someone can help with a list of food and veg i then can put a diet to geather cause i want to get the pain as you all no is a nasty thing my acied is so high wow so if you can help would be great . Thanks so much to you all and the Doctors on the hub cheers Dom
K HARISH RAMACHANDRAN from INDIA on February 03, 2016:
The natural remedies mentioned in this hub to get rid of gout attacks is excellent. Great hub.
Ana Maria Orantes from Miami Florida on December 05, 2014:
Erin Jade from South Australia on August 11, 2014:
Thanks for this have shared with a friend who suffers this condition 🙂
Jackie Lynnley from the beautiful south on June 18, 2014:
Great article will pass it on to a friend who can use it I am sure. Thanks.
on May 27, 2014:
iguidenetwork from Austin, TX on October 31, 2013:
on April 24, 2013:
Devika Primi from Dubrovnik, Croatia on February 19, 2013:
JCielo from England on February 07, 2013:
Your welcome.
Causes & Risk Factors
While natural gout remedies do help to relieve the pain and discomfort, for true healing its important to address the underlying causes of gout and address any risk factors you may have to prevent future gout attacks.
Gout Risk factors
1. Diet:
Consuming moderate to high levels of purine-rich foods including beef, seafood, alcohol, legumes, certain vegetables and fructose is a leading cause of gout.
2. Obesity:
When obese, more uric acid is produced and the kidneys may have a difficult time eliminating the excess.
3. High Blood Pressure:
Natural high blood pressure remedies can help bring your numbers into the normal range. Partner these treatments with regular exercise and stress-relieving activities for the best results.
4. Dehydration:
Stay hydrated by drinking a minimum of eight glasses of water each day. During the summer months or when exercising, be sure to drink more.
5. High Levels of Triglycerides:
Work to reduce your triglycerides by losing weight, avoiding sugary foods, reducing alcohol, and replacing unhealthy fats with healthy ones.
6. Diabetes:
Follow a diabetic diet plan and exercise regularly to lower your A1C numbers naturally.
7. Metabolic Syndrome:
Incorporate burst training and essential oils into your daily routine while following a diet for metabolic syndrome to reduce your chances of gout.
8. Heart Disease:
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Stay At A Healthy Weight For You
If youre overweight or obese your body will produce more urate than if you were at your natural weight.
If you need to lose weight, the best way to do it is gradually with a healthy, low-fat, low-sugar diet and by taking regular exercise. Losing too much weight too soon can cause a gout attack. Read our healthy diet tips here.
Knowing Which Gout Food To Avoid Can Help You Get Rid Of Gout Symptoms
By | Submitted On March 10, 2008
Uric acids is a waste product from the breakdown of purines which are substances naturally found in your body. Purines are also found in several types of food. Gout happens when an abnormally high level of uric acids build up in your blood stream and are deposited as crystals in the space between your joints causing inflammation and excruciating pain. Hence, knowing which gout food to avoid is a treatment in itself.
The treatment of gout in the past included very strict dietary regiments but because of the progress made in modern medications that are used to combat gout, these regiments are no longer as harsh as they used to be. There still are some recommended dietary modifications though as they can greatly help your chances of avoiding gout flare-ups. Many medications for gout have undesirable side effects so dietary modifications is still a healthier option to consider than the medications.
What Gout Food To Avoid?
1. Foods that are high in purines such as liver, brain, kidney, sweetbread, anchovies, peas, beans, mackerel, mincemeat, scallops, muscles, and herring should be avoided. Other foods such as poultry, meat, and fish which have lesser amounts of purines should be eaten in moderation.
3. Drink plenty of water daily to flush out the uric acids from your body system. Try to drink about 2 liters of water a day and more if you are exercising or have a physical job.
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Celery Or Celery Seeds
Celery is a food traditionally used to treat urinary issues. For gout, extract and seeds of the vegetable have become popular home remedies.
Experimental use is well-documented, though scientific research is scant. Its thought that celery may reduce inflammation.
Adequate celery amounts for treating gout arent documented. Try eating celery many times per day, especially raw celery sticks, juice, extract, or seeds.
If purchasing an extract or supplement, follow label directions closely.
What Does It Mean When The Tops Of Your Feet Hurt
The extensor tendons, located in the top of the foot, are needed for flexing or pulling the foot upward. If they become inflamed due to overuse or wearing shoes without proper support, they may get torn or inflamed. This is known as extensor tendinitis, which can cause significant pain in the top of the foot.
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