Gout is a condition that has affected around 8.3 million Americans and continues to do so till date. It is a form of arthritis, and like every other form of arthritis affects the joints, causing excruciating pain in the process. Gout affects the joints especially in the big toe and causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. An individual with gout can experience sudden gout attacks at any time of the day, and the pain can take days to subside. One can say that with every gout attack you have, the tissues in the region deteriorate owing to the inflammation it is exposed to.

Gout is caused due to an increase in the level of uric acid in the body. The uric acid crystals deposit in the joints, and the process of inflammation sets in causing redness, pain, and stiffness of the joints in the process. One’s age, gender, family history, the medications they consume, and other health problems can also trigger gout. However, apart from these, there are other factors that can trigger gout, and these are mostly self-inflicted.

• Crash diets and fasting
  One of the prominent causes of gout is going on crash diets or fasting for long periods. When you go on crash diets to lose weight, you begin to metabolize the body tissues, and this results in an increase in the level of purines, which, in turn, increases the level of uric acid in the body. This adds to other vital reasons to avoid going on crash diets and fasting.
• Dehydration
  Drinking enough water is quite essential for our health; if you do not drink enough water, you become dehydrated, and this is detrimental to your health on different levels. Dehydration leads to an increase in the blood uric acid concentration and ultimately leads to a gout attack.
• Extra weight
  We are well aware of the repercussions of being overweight. Another health issue that accompanies obesity is gout. Research indicates that people who are overweight are more prone to develop gout since obesity stimulates the body into producing more uric acid, and blocks uric acid excretion as well.
• Food habits
  Erroneous eating habits can put us in harm’s way, and this holds true even in case of gout. Bad eating habits can cause gout. Foods such as red meat, liver, sweetbreads, certain seafood, are to be avoided since these have high purine levels and lead to an increased production of uric acid, which, in turn, causes gout.
• Alcohol
  Alcohol is known to worsen a plethora of health conditions, and that includes gout as well. Alcohol consumption interferes with the kidney function; the kidneys cannot filter uric acid to its optimum level, and this results in the build-up of uric acid.

Any form of ailment can render us incapacitated for some time. However, it poses a problem when the condition is a chronic and painful. One such condition that has been increasingly affecting Americans is gout. A gout is a complex form of arthritis that can affect anyone irrespective of their age. Since it is a form of arthritis, needless to say, it primarily affects the joints. Gout is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of swelling, pain, tenderness, in the joint, and it usually affects the joint at the base of the big toe.

Gout, like every other form of arthritis, affects the individual’s mobility and causes excruciating pain whenever a gout attack begins, and this happens suddenly. Even after the pain subsides, the discomfort lingers.

Gout is caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints, and this is what triggers inflammation and pain. However, there are other factors that make an individual more vulnerable to gout, and they are as follows.

• Genetics
  In a majority of cases, our genes are the ones that give an impetus to ailments. If you have a family history of gout, there are high chances that you too will develop this painful condition.
• Age and gender
  Men produce more uric acid than women, and as mentioned earlier, deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint is the leading cause of gout. This implies that men are more prone to suffer from gout as compared to women. However, women’s uric acid levels increase after they reach menopause, which puts them at equal risk of developing gout.
• Joint injury
  Joint injury is another prominent cause of gout. Injured joints are more susceptible to collection of uric acid and can trigger a gout attack that can last for weeks.
• Medications
  Medications are meant to cure ailments, but they can have a drastic impact on one’s health. Certain medications contain a high level of uric acid and consuming them for a longer period can increase the level of uric acid in the body, which eventually causes gout. Moreover, certain diuretics and drugs that contain salicylate can trigger a gout attack which might last for a long time.
• Surgery or recent trauma
  The individual becomes vulnerable to gout if they have recently undergone a surgery or were subject to some physical trauma. Even a small trauma to the foot can give rise to inflammation, which will in no time precipitate a gout attack in the particular joint.
• Other health conditions
  Other health conditions such as high blood pressure, kidney problems that lead to an increase in the levels of uric acid in the body, diabetes, and hypothyroidism can cause gout.

Leaky gut syndrome, a recently recognized condition has been gaining considerable attention over the past few years. This is a disorder that develops as a result of a malfunction in the intestinal tight junction. These junctions act like stoppers for toxic substances and other microbes from entering the bloodstream. The damage causes intoxication in the body and leads to the development of several other diseases and conditions such as eczema, irritable bowel, chronic fatigue and more.

Here are the symptoms of leaky gut syndrome that indicate a possibility of one suffering from the condition:

Inflammatory skin – This intestinal disorder causes several skin diseases. These mainly include acne, psoriasis, and eczema. This symptom can be traced to an old age-theory that explains a relation between the health of one’s gut and skin condition. What’s on the inside is reflected on the skin.

Thyroid conditions – Hashimoto’s disease, this is one of the most common symptoms of a leaky gut syndrome that people experience. This disorder is also known as chronic thyroiditis that leads to several other conditions such as depression, fatigue, increase in weight and more.

Food intolerance – Leaky gut syndrome leads to an individual’s system becoming sensitive towards a host of food items. The toxins present in the bloodstream result in the body becoming intolerant towards certain kinds of foods. Allergies from food products such as dairy and gluten become very familiar. Also, there an inexplicable craving for sugary foods such as sweets and other carb-filled dishes.

Bowel syndrome – The leaky gut syndrome causes inflammation in the intestines; this leads to a condition known as irritable bowel syndrome. The toxins present in the bloodstream of the body also causes an issue with the movement of the bowel, thus leading to conditions such as constipation and diarrhea.

Mental health – Effect to one’s mental health is a primary symptom of leaky gut syndrome. It has found to cause various neurocognitive disorder in a person suffering from the condition. It triggers the release of chemicals that can cause mental issues such as depression. A person begins to experience mood swings that eventual affects relationships, work, and the overall lifestyle.

Deficiencies – Symptoms of leaky gut syndrome include the body’s inability to absorb necessary nutrients and vitamins. Also, it causes a deficiency in the enzymes that help to break down and digest food.

If one comes to notice more than one of the above symptoms, it is essential to consult a doctor who will help with making necessary lifestyle changes and provide the necessary medical aid.

Gout is a form of arthritis and is associated with pain and discomfort. Here, we talk about how this ailment is treated.

Symptoms associated with gout include acute joint pain, redness, inflammation, and softness of the joints. Sensations of pain sensations are likely to occur suddenly. During that time, the affected joint area seem to be burning and they swell-up and become tender and soft.

Causes of gout
Gout occurs due to a high level of accumulation of urate crystals in your joints. Urate crystals increase as a result of high levels of uric acid. There are different causes due to which the uric acid level increases in the body. Obesity, alcohol, and high consumption of purine-rich foods are some of them. Purine-rich foods include red meats, white bread, white rice, and pasta. Processed foods like chips and frozen foods also come under the same category.

Cure for gout
Gout is treatable through medications. The medications used for gout treatment include:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or the NSAIDs are ideal for gout treatment. Ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, indomethacin (Indocin), or celecoxib (Celebrex) are available as over-the-counter medications.
Colchicine is for pain relief. It reduces swelling and the formation of uric acid crystals in your joints. Colchicine is an instant pain reliever and is very effective.
Corticosteroid is a medicine to control inflammation and pain. It is usually used as a substitute for NSAIDs and Colchicine
These medications help in improving the patient’s condition with regular intake. It also reduces the risk of gout attacks in future. Certain preventive measures like avoiding red meat and other purine-rich foods can go a long way in preventing the symptoms of gout.

How to treat complications
It is important to reduce your uric acid level or even stop its production inside your body. Medicines like xanthine oxidase and febuxostat stop the increase of uric acid. Another drug called Probenecid (Probalan) removes uric acid from your kidneys. It doesn’t only help in removing uric acid only from the kidneys but also increase its excretion through urine.

Medications don’t come without side-effects. It is important for you to make certain changes in lifestyle and you can also look for home remedies the web. Reduce your alcohol intake. Lower down consumption of purine-rich foods. Make sure to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a healthy body weight and height ratio. Coffee and Vitamin C-rich supplements have the potential to reduce the uric acid levels. Include oranges, broccoli, and grapefruit in your regular diet. Coffee will not cure your gout but reduce the symptoms to a great extent.

Gout is inflammatory arthritis which is developed due to high levels of uric acid in the blood.

The acid has the capability to form into needle-like crystals in a joint. These crystals cause severe pain, tenderness, swelling, and redness. It most affects the large joint of the big toe. It also affects feet, ankles, wrists, hands, knees, etc. The attacks of gout occur suddenly and mostly at nights.

Gout is more common among men than women. Over 4% of the US population suffers from gout arthritis. It occurs due to various factors like genes, medications, age and gender, diet, alcohol, and sodas.

The treatment procedures you need to know about:
The main aim of gout treatment is to reduce the sharp pain and limit its chances of recurrence. This also aims to reduce complications like joint destruction and kidney failure. This requires medical support to treat along with some home precautions to follow.

Some of the more popular gout treatment procedures are listed below!

Getting adequate rest
When a gout attack occurs, rest the affected joint. This helps in the pain reduction to a certain extent. Proper rest, along with the prescribed medicines, give you relief from the pain, which is the worst part of gout. This is one of the best practices to reduce the pain immediately.

Using ice packs
Gout attacks cause swelling and redness along with pain. To reduce this, you can use ice packs at home. Massage the affected joint with an ice pack. This helps you reduce the swelling fast and also provides relaxation.

The right medication
Taking the proper medication is one of the most important things a patient has to do. When the attack occurs, immediately take the painkillers prescribed by the doctor. These help by reducing the pain and helping you relax. Always follow the doctor’s suggestions to avoid medicines that are rich in uric acid, as those will increase uric acid levels which worsen the condition instead of making it better.

Keeping yourself hydrated
Water helps your organs stay healthy and functioning at optimal levels. To reduce the frequent occurring of gout attacks, keep yourself hydrated all the time. Drink plenty of water; this helps you purify the blood and activates the body.

Avoiding food rich in “Purines”
Uric acid forms due to the breakdown of purines, a component of food. The increase in purines leads to the risk of the increase in the uric acid levels. It is not at all good for gout patients. Avoid food that contains purines. In general, foods like liver, dried peas, beans, and alcohol are rich in purines.

Weight maintenance
Being overweight, or obesity may also be a reason for gout attacks. Make sure you maintain a healthy weight. Regular exercises will help you achieve this.

Gout foot pain is characterized by a sudden and severe attack of excruciating pain along with swelling, redness and tenderness of the joint. It mostly takes place at the side or base of the large toe. It can be defined as a complex form of arthritis which affects more men than women. However, women become increasingly vulnerable to gout foot pain after menopause.The gout foot pain can occur without any aggravation or prior warning. People suffering from gout report that they find themselves wake up in the middle of the night with a burning sensation on their foot. The joint that has been affected by gout feels hot and is much swollen and sensitive. Check out some of the common symptoms of gout pain.

Intense pain in the joints
Gout normally affects the joint in the big toe. But this doesn’t indicate that gout pain cannot occur in hand, wrists, ankles, feet and knees. The pain is likely to be unbearable for in the initial 4 to 12 hours.

Constant discomfort
After the most severe gout foot pain subsides, there can be a continuous discomfort in the joints for a few days. Without the proper gout foot pain treatment, the discomfort would last longer and start spreading to other joints as well.

Redness accompanied by inflammation
The affected areas would become swollen, reddish, tender and warm.

Decrease in the range of motion
With the progress of the gout foot pain, you will experience a decreased range of motion.

Several reasons cause gout foot pain. Listed below are some of the common risk factors that can lead to gout.

Dieting irregularities
If you have a habit of consuming a diet which is rich in meat content along with sweetened beverages, you are more likely to have excess amounts of uric acid. This, in turn, increases your chances of having gout. Those who consume alcohol, particularly beer are more likely to have gout foot pain compared to others.

Obesity
When you are overweight, you are more likely to have high levels of uric acid. It pressurizes your kidneys to flush out the uric acid and the whole condition increases your risk of gout.

Medicines and clinical conditions
If you have high blood pressure and sugar, it also increases your chance of having gout. You should try to reduce the metabolic syndrome, heart and kidney conditions for reducing the chances of suffering from gout foot pain.