| Gout, which is also known as metabolic arthritis, is | | | | * Heavy intake of alcohol |
| a disease that is created by a uric acid buildup. In | | | | * Injury to a joint |
| this condition, uric acid crystals are deposited on | | | | * Excessive eating - uric acid levels can be |
| the joint's articular cartilage, surrounding tissues | | | | increased by eating certain foods |
| and tendons due to the elevated concentration of | | | | * Stress |
| uric acid which is found in the bloodstream. When | | | | * Recent surgery |
| the uric acid level is high, an inflammatory reaction | | | | Causes of Gout |
| of these tissues is provoked. | | | | As a person's body tissues are broken down, uric |
| In order to have gout under control, your uric acid | | | | acid is generated. When some people have gout, |
| level must remain low. If your blood uric acid | | | | they will generate too much uric acid. Other |
| concentration is too high, medication is usually | | | | people do not effectively eliminate the uric acid |
| prescribed to control the symptoms of gout. | | | | into the urine. Genetics, nutrition, alcoholism, |
| Some symptoms of gout include the following: | | | | gender and obesity all play key roles in gout |
| * Sustained high levels of uric acid in the | | | | development. |
| bloodstream. | | | | Causes of gout |
| * In the joint fluid, there is the presence of uric | | | | The causes of gout can be precipitated when the |
| acid crystals. | | | | uric acid level change suddenly. Other causes of |
| * There are deposits of uric acid crystals around | | | | gout include the following: |
| the joints and perhaps even around the ears. | | | | * Overindulgence of red meats and alcohol |
| * At first, only one or two of the joints are | | | | * Dehydration and starvation |
| affected. | | | | * Chemotherapy |
| * Another one of the symptoms of gout is that | | | | * Medications such as aspirin and some diuretics |
| there is tenderness around an affected joint. | | | | * Trauma |
| * One of the more common symptoms of gout | | | | * IV contrast dyes |
| is that the skin is red and painful to the touch | | | | I am one of those less fortunate people who |
| around an affected joint. | | | | happen to have gout. One time several years |
| * It is quite painful to move the affected limbs. | | | | ago, I thought that I had an infection in my |
| * If a person has chronic gout, this can lead to | | | | artificial knee joint. I immediately went to see my |
| kidney stones and decreased kidney function. | | | | orthopedic specialist. He drew fluid off of my knee |
| Signs of a gout attack | | | | which was thick and yellow-green. He felt for sure |
| * There is a rapid onset of symptoms usually | | | | that I probably had staph infection and was in for |
| between 12-24 hours and this often occurs while | | | | a long ordeal. I did have to undergo surgery, but |
| the person is sleeping. | | | | to my surprise, there was no staph infection |
| * The development of fever or chills. | | | | present. Instead, thousands of uric acid crystals |
| * Gout attacks will usually subside within hours or | | | | formed on my artificial knee parts. The doctor |
| days. | | | | told me that there are only 3 or 4 cases like this |
| Conditions preceding a gout attack | | | | in the entire world. I now have to take medication |
| * Dehydration | | | | to control any symptoms of gout. |
| * Fever | | | | |