Gout
Overview
Gout is a type of arthritis that causes sudden, severe joint pain. Painkillers can help the pain and healthier lifestyle choices can prevent future attacks.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of gout are: sudden severe pain in a joint – usually your big toe, but it can be in other joints in your feet, ankles, hands, wrists, elbows or kneeshot, swollen, red skin over the affected joint – redness may be harder to see on black or brown skin.
Causes
Gout is caused by having too much uric acid in your blood. This can lead to crystals forming around your joints, which causes pain. It sometimes runs in families. It's more common in men, especially as they get older. You might have a higher chance of getting gout if you: are overweightdrink alcoholhave been through the menopausetake medicines such as diuretics (water tablets), or medicines for high blood pressure (such as ACE inhibitors)have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, kidney problems, osteoarthritis or diabeteshave had surgery or an injury
Treatment
Attacks of gout are usually treated with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory(NSAID), likeibuprofen. If the pain and swelling does not improve you may be givensteroidsas tablets or an injection. Gout can come back every few months or it may be years. It can come back more often if it's not treated. If you have frequent attacks or high levels of uric acid in your blood, you may need to take uric acid-lowering medicine. It's important to take uric acid-lowering medicine regularly, even when you no longer have symptoms.
Prevention
Gout can come back every few months or it may be years. It can come back more often if it's not treated. If you have frequent attacks or high levels of uric acid in your blood, you may need to take uric acid-lowering medicine. It's important to take uric acid-lowering medicine regularly, even when you no longer have symptoms. Making healthy lifestyle choices may mean you can stop or reduce further gout attacks: try tolose weightif you are overweight, but avoid crash diets try tolose weightif you are overweight, but avoid crash diets eat a healthy diet – your doctor may give you a list of foods to include or limit eat a healthy diet – your doctor may give you a list of foods to include or limit have some alcohol-free days each week – try not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week have some alcohol-free days each week – try not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week drink plenty of fluids to avoid getting dehydrated drink plenty of fluids to avoid getting dehydrated exercise regularly – but avoid intense exercise or putting lots of pressure on joints exercise regularly – but avoid intense exercise or putting lots of pressure on joints try toquit smoking try toquit smoking ask a GP about vitamin C supplements ask a GP about vitamin C supplements do not have lots of sugary drinks and snacks do not have lots of sugary drinks and snacks
When to see a doctor
See GP if: sudden severe joint pain; inflammation; high temp (could be septic arthritis). Urgent if: pain worsening + fever + sickness.