What is gout?
Gout is a form of arthritis that causes sudden, severe
attacks of pain, tenderness, redness, warmth, and swelling (inflammation) in
some joints. It often affects one joint or only a few joints at a time.
The large toe is most often affected, but gout can also affect other joints in the leg (knee, ankle, foot) and less often in the
arms (hand, wrist, and elbow). The spine is almost never affected.
What are the symptoms of gout?
- Sudden, intense joint pain, which often first occurs in the early
morning hours
- Swollen, tender joint that's warm to the touch
- Red or purple skin around the joint
What causes gout?
Gout was once incorrectly thought to be a disease of
the rich and famous, caused only by eating too much rich food and drinking fine
wines. Although diet and excessive drinking of alcohol can contribute to the
development of gout, they are not the main cause of the disorder.
Gout results from abnormal deposits of sodium urate
crystals around the joint cartilage and their later release into the joint
fluid. Urate crystals can also form in the kidney, causing kidney stones.
Sodium urate is formed from uric acid, a natural
chemical in the body. Uric acid comes from the natural breakdown of RNA and DNA
(the genetic material in cells). Some foods contain large amounts of uric acid,
especially red meats and internal organs (such as liver and kidneys), some
shellfish, and anchovies.
Uric acid in normal amounts remains dissolved in the
blood, easily passes through the kidneys, and leaves the body as waste. Uric
acid in high amounts will deposit in joints and make a person more likely to
develop gout.
The amount of uric acid in your blood can change depending on:
- How efficiently your kidney gets rid of the uric acid in the blood
- What you eat
- Your overall health
- How much alcohol you drink
- What medicines you are taking
- Sudden illnesses
Not everyone with high levels of uric acid will
develop gout. The kidneys' ability to rid the body of uric acid is partly
determined by heredity. Yet, just because someone in the family suffers from
gout does not mean everyone in that family will have the disorder. Often, the
effect of heredity is modified by the risk factors mentioned above that affect
uric acid, as well as male sex and age. All of these factors increase the risk
of gout.