A chronic condition like gout is a type of arthritis that may come and go. Its symptoms might become intense due to flare-ups.According to the Healthline website,for a person getting the treatment, the episodes of gout may last for around 3 days. And in those without any treatment, it can last up to 14 days.
This condition causes severe pain, swelling, inflammation, and redness around the joints. If the person is getting the treatment, they may experience the symptoms for 3 days. It typically affects the joints of the knees, wrists, elbows, big toe, and fingers. If it is left untreated, the condition worsens as the symptoms become severe and the gout flares and attacks become more frequent.
Lack of treatment causes the gout symptoms to persist for a couple of weeks. This potentiates the risk of progression and gout-related complications such as kidney damage, joint damage, and bone loss. Treatment is necessary to prevent the condition from worsening.
Effective ways to overcome gout symptoms
When gout flares occur, you can manage it with medications and some lifestyle changes. The first step to prevent gout flares is to avoid the factors that trigger it. Certain types of foods and drinks are the primary cause of gout. Generally, foods and drinks that are high in purines cause gout flares. The foods one must either avoid or limit the consumption of are listed below:
- Sugary snacks such as pastries, candies, cakes, drinks, etc.
- Full-fat dairy products
- Liver and kidney
- Red meats
- White bread
- Poultry
- Certain alcoholic beverages
- Seafood such as crab, lobster, trout, tuna, mackerel, sardines, etc.
In addition, it is equally important to implement several lifestyle changes, which will be beneficial for reducing the risk of gout flares. These changes include:
- Drinking plenty of water – Hydration is necessary for the kidneys to perform their optimal function. Since gout happens due to the rise in the levels of uric acid in the body, kidneys remove the uric acid and prevent the risk of gout symptoms. Therefore, one must consume plenty of water in a day.
- Reducing the intake of alcohol – Alcohol can potentiate the risk of developing gout. Certain types such as beer are loaded with high amounts of purine. One must drink such beverages in moderation.
- Regular exercise – Staying physically active will reduce the risk of gout. It will also reduce the frequency of gout flares.
- Giving up smoking – Chronic smokers might be susceptible to gout. One must give up smoking habits.
- Overweight – Those who are overweight and obese have higher levels of uric acid in their body. Such people’s bodies produce higher levels of uric acid, which might lead to gout. This is why, it is necessary for such individuals to lose some extra weight and try to become fit.
How does gout occur?
A person develops this condition because of the rise in the levels of uric acid in their blood. Uric acid is nothing but a waste product that gets eliminated by the body. The kidneys are responsible for getting this substance out of the body. But sometimes, the levels of uric acid rise to excessive amounts, which leads to its crystallization.
As the body fails to get rid of uric acid from the system, the small atoms of uric acid bind together and form tiny clusters of it. The crystals have sharper edges that prick like needles under the skin surface. These crystals then accumulate around the joints to form gout and give rise to intense pain, swelling, inflammation, redness, and tenderness in and around the joints. The condition affects the person’s movements.
The body naturally has some uric acid as a waste product. It is metabolized from a substance known as purine. The purine levels in the body rise when the person consumes too much of purine-rich foods and drinks. The breakdown of purine leads to the production of uric acid as a waste. As the body fails to get rid of uric acid, it crystallizes and these crystals potentiate the risk of gout.
Gout diagnosis and treatment
Gout is a chronic health condition and it must never be left untreated. If the person does not get the treatment in time, the condition will exacerbate, and the frequency of gout flares will increase and their difficulties might increase. Early diagnosis and treatment will reduce the possibilities of gout complications which include joint damage, kidney damage, and bone loss.
The healthcare expert will prescribe treatment that typically includes two types of medications. The first type of drugs will be helpful in decreasing the frequency of gout flares, and the severity of pain, inflammation, and swelling. The other types of drugs will be prescribed to prevent the risk of gout-related complications and help the body get rid of the excess of uric acid from the body, which will prevent disease progression.