How to Deal with Gout Pain

Gout is a painful condition caused by uric acid build-up in the bloodstream. The uric acid can form crystals leading to inflammation and pain in the joints. How can you deal with gout pain?

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by high uric acid levels caused by either the body producing too much uric acid or the kidneys not getting rid of the uric acid as they should.

Gout attacks can be triggered by medications, alcoholic beverages, stress and certain foods that are high in purine which increases uric acid in the body. High purine foods include meats such as beef and pork, beer, fish such as anchovies and sardines, vegetables such as spinach, mushrooms and cauliflower, oatmeal and dried beans and peas.

Low purine foods include breads and grains, dairy products, tomatoes, fruits, olives and eggs. By decreasing the amount of high purine foods you eat and replacing them with low purine foods, you can help to reduce the triggers to an attack of gout. Foods do not cause gout, but they can trigger an attack.

In addition to avoiding alcoholic beverages and high purine foods, to deal with gout pain you should drink lots of water. Water can help lower levels of uric acid in your blood preventing the formation of crystals and inflammation and pain in the joints.

Exercise and weight loss can also help in preventing attacks of gout. Be sure to get enough exercise and eat a healthy balanced diet. Talk to your doctor about an exercise and weight loss plan that will be right for you.

To deal with gout pain, anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen may help. Your doctor may also prescribe steroids to help with inflammation and pain. Although pain medications may be useful during an attack of gout, be sure to address your uric acid levels at all times to prevent an attack in the first place.

Your doctor may prescribe medication in addition to healthy lifestyle changes for gout to help the body produce less uric acid or to help the kidneys get rid of the uric acid in the bloodstream.

FURTHER READING:

WebMD; Gout: Topic overview

http://arthritis.webmd.com/tc/gout-topic-overview