Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs usually in one joint causing pain and inflammation. The occurrence of gout is often sudden without any concrete symptoms. When there is a disposition of uric acid crystals, the condition of gouty arthritis is caused. People who have this condition experience symptoms such as swollen joints, warmth and redness in joints, and joint pain. Though there are several methods of diagnosing gouty arthritis, one of the most reliable ways is examining the fluid that is removed from an inflamed joint to check the presence of uric acid crystals.

Read further to get an insight into gouty arthritis, its causes, symptoms, and treatment.

What is the major cause of gout?

• The appearance of gout is sudden and painful, and often in the form of a swollen toe or a swollen lower body joint.
• Though the visible occurrence of gout is sudden, its process of being formed in the body is gradual.
• Excess uric acid in the body is the main reason behind the gouty arthritis. This condition of excess uric acid is called hyperuricemia.
• The metabolic breakdown of purines by the body forms uric acid
• The uric acid is passed to the kidneys and excreted from there in the form of urine or is passed through the intestine for maintaining the levels
• When the body produces excess uric acid for the kidneys to excrete, the acid enters the bloodstream
• Excess uric acid entering the bloodstream leads to some conditions such as, kidney stones and gout

What are the causes of excess uric acid or hyperuricemia?

• Genetics
• Obesity
• Certain medication
• Chronic kidney function
• Endocrine or metabolic conditions
• Diabetes
• Unhealthy diet and lifestyle

What are the signs and symptoms gouty arthritis?

The signs and symptoms of a gouty arthritis are often noticed in a single joint. The common sign of this inflammatory arthritis is a severe pain in the affected joint. Some common symptoms and signs of a gout are mentioned below.

• Swelling in the joint
• Heat in the affected area
• Redness in the joint
• Sudden pain in the affected joint
• Presence of tophus, which is the crystalline deposit of uric acid. This is an initial manifestation of gout.

What are the treatment options for gouty arthritis or gout flares?
Timely treatment is important for people who have developed a condition of gouty arthritis.

The primary goal of the treatment of gouty arthritis is to eliminate pain and disability caused by the occurrence of gout.

Though gout flares subside over time on their own even without any treatment, it is important that one gets a diagnosis and treatment to erase the root cause of gouty arthritis. The right time to visit a doctor is when one experiences the following.

• There is a joint pain with redness or inflammation.
• There is a shortness of breath, discomfort, or chest pain.
• There is an increased or rapid heartbeat without an explanation.
• There are rashes on the skin, especially after taking medications for other health conditions, if any.

There are several therapies and treatments available for gouty arthritis that include the following.

• Low dose of anti-inflammatory therapy for providing quick relief to foot pain caused by gout flare
• Continuous urate-lowering therapy for reducing the gout flare
• Oral therapies that include oral glucocorticoids, NSAIDs, and Colchicine

Doctors often try other ways of treating gouty arthritis for patients who are not responding to the ongoing treatments or are unable to take usual treatments.

What measures the people with gout can take to stay healthy?

People who have had gout attacks often take several measures to prevent painful recurrences of gouty arthritis. The primary objective of preventive measures is to lower the excess levels of uric acid by following the right diet and taking appropriate medication.

Here are some foods and habits that should be avoided or eliminated to prevent the recurrence of gout flares.

• Organ meats
• Alcohol
• High-fructose corn syrup
• Red and processed meat
• Artificially sweetened food items
• Smoking

What are some lifestyle changes that can help one prevent gout flares?
Here are some measures that can help one prevent gout flares.

• Regularly exercising and losing excess weight
• Following a diet that has plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Staying hydrated by drinking water
• Replacing organ, red, and processed meat with lean meat and poultry
• Having low-fat dairy

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