Gout is a serious and complex type of arthritis that is known to cause sudden, intense periods of pain, inflammation, and tenderness in joints. It is characterized by a deep pain that occurs on the joint at the base of the big toe. This disease can affect either sex, but men are more likely to suffer from it, and women more prone to contract it after menopause. Gout can cause pain so severe that even the feather light weight of a sheet can cause unbearable pain. However, there are ways to treat gout, and reduce its occurrences or flare ups in the future.
The symptoms of gout are known to happen without preamble, usually during the late evening hours. People affected by gout may experience intense joint pain in the feet, hands, knees, ankles, or wrists. Pain is at its worst four to twelve hours after the joint pain begins. Another sign of gout is lingering discomfort; this joint discomfort can linger anywhere from three days to three weeks. Inflammation and redness may cause the joint to appear swollen and red, become very tender, and warm to the touch. Limited range of motion is also one of the many gout symptoms, and can result in decreased joint movement as the problem progresses.
Gout is caused by exceedingly large amounts of uric acid in the body, which results in inflammation and severe pain. Uric acid is produced when the body breaks down purines, which are substances that are normally in the body and in foods like alcohol, steak, organ meats, and seafood. Usually uric acid dissolves on its own, but sometimes the body makes too much of it, resulting in a formation of urate crystals in the joints. These urate crystals are shaped like needles and cause pain and swelling, or gout.
If gout attacks effect an individual regularly and are painful, the doctor might recommend medical treatment. There are medications that block uric acid production, such as xanthine oxidase inhibitors, also known as Aloprim, Lopurin, and Zyloprim. These all reduce the body’s risk of developing gout. However, these treatments may have major side effects, and users should read about them before taking the drugs. For those who don’t like traditional medicines, there are several natural remedies for treating gout.
The natural gout treatment methods include consuming coffee, vitamin C, and black cherries. These natural treatments are all believed to combat the production of uric acid. The sufferer should talk to their doctor before trying any home gout treatment to be sure that it is safe for them to try.
Treating gout can be frustrating, but it is an ailment that most be treated one way or the other. There are also holistic treatments that may help, including deep-breathing techniques and meditation that help relax the mind from the pain. Medical treatment is of course the most helpful at alleviating the extremely and overwhelmingly painful symptoms of gout. Those suffering from the disease can find more information on treating the symptoms at http://curegoutpainnow.com.
