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Gout By prism{HS} Greetings Masters, This month prism is going to write on something she hopes none of you ever have to experience, Gout. Gout is one of the most painful of all types of arthritis. Once believed to be the result of gluttony, gout is now known to affect people from all walks of life, and often the disease is inherited. Less than one in ten women will develop gout. About 500,000 people have gout in the United States, with most being men between the ages of 30 and 60. Gout accounts for about 5 percent of all cases of arthritis. prism just happens to be on of the ten women, and trust her, life without pain killers would have not been possible.
Gout is caused when there is over-production of uric acid in normal purine metabolism in the body. Genetics can play a role in who develops gout. It can also occur as a complication of other conditions. Some people inherit the inability to process uric acid and lose it in the urine. High blood levels of uric acid in turn cause sodium monourate crystals to collect in the joint fluid and joint coverings, leading to gout, a painful, stiff, swollen joint. With time, elevated levels of uric acid in the blood may lead to deposits around joints. Eventually, the uric acid may form needle-like crystals in joints, leading to acute gout attacks. Uric acid may also collect under the skin as tophi or in the urinary tract as kidney stones. Also, what is in your diet is a factor. All of the following foods can be responsible for excessive uric acid production. Even though some do not contain purines, they can still cause the system to naturally produce uric acid. They are as follows: alcohol, anchovies, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, consomme, herring, meat gravies, broth, bouillon, mussels, sardines, red meats, organ meats, processed meats (hot dogs, lunch meats, etc.), fried foods, roasted nuts, any food cooked in oil (heated oil destroys vitamin E), rich foods (cakes, sugar products, white flour products), dark green vegetables, dried fruits, fish, caffeine, beans, lentils, eggs, oatmeal, peas, poultry, yeast products, acetaminophen, and low doses of aspirin.
Symptoms of a gout attack include sudden, severe pain and tenderness, redness, warmth and swelling, in the affected joints -- most commonly the big toe. The initial attack often occurs at night and is confused by many sufferers with a broken or dislocated toe. Even the weight of bed sheets on the swollen joint can cause excruciating pain. Repeated attacks may be preceded by a tingling sensation in the previously affected joint.
While under a gout attack, all of the above foods should be completely avoided, as well as the following: artificial sweeteners, carbonated soft drinks & fizzy drinks, cigarettes, flour (white wheat), goat, lamb, pastries & cakes from white flour, pork, sugar, beer, brown sugar, deer, chocolate, coffee, custard with white sugar, jams, jellies, liquor, pasta, rabbit, semolina, refined & iodized table salt, black tea, turkey, wheat bread, white rice, and vinegar. Because dietary changes can improve gout but not fully eliminate it in such cases, medication aimed at decreasing the amount of uric acid in the body is the first line of treatment. And treatment is important, as a chronic state of gout may develop into joint disease, and result in progressive joint damage.
How can one do their best to avoid gout? You can lessen the chances by:
prism hopes this will help some of you. Until next month... peace and well wishes! prism prism_hs@yahoo.com |
