What Causes Gout

Believe it or not, gout is actually a rather painful form of arthritis. It can affect all joints in the body, but most usually it is found in the feet, and most particularly in the big toes. It can cause redness, swelling, but most of all extreme, radiating pain. It occurs most often in men who are in their forties or older, but can also occur in women about a third as often. You more than likely know if you've got it, but you should also understand what causes gout.

The most common problem involves diet. A rich diet, which is high in purines, can trigger an attack of gout. Too much of the wrong foods can cause an increase of uric acid, which turns into needle sharp crystals, which then settle into the spaces in your joints, causing excruciating pain. These attacks can last anywhere from a few hours to a number of days. By knowing what causes gout; which foods are high in purines, and avoiding them, you can prevent these flare-ups, or ease them.

If you feel sudden, extreme pain, in your toe (though it may start in the fingers, wrists, ankles, heels, or elbows), you need to increase your water intake, stay away from rich foods , as well as vegetables and fruits that are high in purines, and get yourself into a daily exercise routine. All of these things will help and are natural remedies. Cherries and strawberries are a good thing to add to your daily diet when you are suffering from gout.

Knowing what causes gout, and ignoring it, is a bad idea. It can progress, with the attacks becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and spreading to other joints in your body. Eventually it could even cause permanent damage that would disable you. Don't ignore it. As long as those crystals of uric acid remain in your joints, you will have inflammation and pain in that area. Kidney stones often occur in people who have gout.

While gout usually affects only the joints, the crystals of uric acid will, infrequently, gather under the skin or in the kidneys and move on to the urinary tract. Hyperuricemia, or this building up of uric acid can occur both when your body produces too much uric acid and when your body has trouble removing it. Now that you know what causes gout, it is time to learn everything you can to prevent it.

SOURCE: gout.factshere.com