Frequently Asked Questions About Gout
According to the American College of Rheumatology, approximately 8.3 million Americans suffer from a type of inflammatory arthritis called gout. Gout is an excruciating form of arthritis that can lead to joint degeneration and kidney stones without proper treatment. When experiencing any symptoms of gout, it is important to consult an experienced rheumatologist, like one at Pacific Rheumatology Medical Center or another reputable provider, to help diagnose and treat your condition. Read on to get the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about gout.
What Is Gout?
Gout is a type of rheumatic arthritis that is characterized by sudden attacks of stiffness, intense pain, redness, and swelling in a joint, usually the big toe. This type of arthritis causes continuous attacks that may result in joint, tissue, and tendon damage without proper treatment. Gout is most commonly found in men over the age of 30, particularly those from the pacific islands.
What Causes Gout?
Gout is caused by hyperuricemia, or too much uric acid in the blood. The specific cause of hyperuricemia is not always known, but genetic factors often play a role. The excess uric acid in the blood forms crystals that are deposited in the joints, causing painful symptoms of inflammation. Although flare-ups may occur periodically without cause, they can also be caused by hypertension, obesity, certain medications, alcohol consumption, a diet rich in meat and seafood, rapid weight loss, surgery, and certain genetic conditions.
What Are the Symptoms of Gout?
Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis in men. This condition can present in acute attacks that may last for days or weeks or develop into a chronic condition. Some of the most common symptoms of Gout include the following:
Gout is typically diagnosed by performing a variety of tests. Most physicians will begin the process by evaluating the patient's medical history, performing a complete physical examination, and testing the blood and urine for elevated levels of uric acid. However, the only way to accurately diagnose gout is by performing an arthrocentesis. This test involves extracting synovial fluid from the affected joint to confirm the presence of uric acid crystals.
How Is Gout Treated?
The treatment goals for gout include relieving pain during acute attacks and taking appropriate steps to prevent future attacks and long-term complications. The acute treatment of gout includes rest, ice, and prescription pain medications. The long-term treatment of gout includes weight management; exercising; limiting consumption of meat, seafood, and alcohol; taking medications to reduce uric acid levels in the blood; and regular visits with an experienced rheumatologist, like one at Pacific Rheumatology Medical Center or another reputable provider.</Tophi,>
What Is Gout?
Gout is a type of rheumatic arthritis that is characterized by sudden attacks of stiffness, intense pain, redness, and swelling in a joint, usually the big toe. This type of arthritis causes continuous attacks that may result in joint, tissue, and tendon damage without proper treatment. Gout is most commonly found in men over the age of 30, particularly those from the pacific islands.
What Causes Gout?
Gout is caused by hyperuricemia, or too much uric acid in the blood. The specific cause of hyperuricemia is not always known, but genetic factors often play a role. The excess uric acid in the blood forms crystals that are deposited in the joints, causing painful symptoms of inflammation. Although flare-ups may occur periodically without cause, they can also be caused by hypertension, obesity, certain medications, alcohol consumption, a diet rich in meat and seafood, rapid weight loss, surgery, and certain genetic conditions.
What Are the Symptoms of Gout?
Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis in men. This condition can present in acute attacks that may last for days or weeks or develop into a chronic condition. Some of the most common symptoms of Gout include the following:
- Redness, swelling, pain, and extreme tenderness in a joint, usually the big toe, but can also occur in the feet, ankles, knees, fingers, wrists, and elbows
- Red or purplish skin around the affected joint
- Restricted movement in the affected joint
- Itching and peeling of the skin around the affected joint.
- <Tophi, or nodules that appear on the ears, hands, or elbows
Gout is typically diagnosed by performing a variety of tests. Most physicians will begin the process by evaluating the patient's medical history, performing a complete physical examination, and testing the blood and urine for elevated levels of uric acid. However, the only way to accurately diagnose gout is by performing an arthrocentesis. This test involves extracting synovial fluid from the affected joint to confirm the presence of uric acid crystals.
How Is Gout Treated?
The treatment goals for gout include relieving pain during acute attacks and taking appropriate steps to prevent future attacks and long-term complications. The acute treatment of gout includes rest, ice, and prescription pain medications. The long-term treatment of gout includes weight management; exercising; limiting consumption of meat, seafood, and alcohol; taking medications to reduce uric acid levels in the blood; and regular visits with an experienced rheumatologist, like one at Pacific Rheumatology Medical Center or another reputable provider.</Tophi,>
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