{"id":1545,"date":"2017-06-12T15:14:39","date_gmt":"2017-06-12T19:14:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/assistinghands.com\/6\/?p=1545"},"modified":"2017-06-12T15:25:22","modified_gmt":"2017-06-12T19:25:22","slug":"old-fashioned-gout-common-ever-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/6\/newjersey\/centralnj\/blog\/old-fashioned-gout-common-ever-today\/","title":{"rendered":"“Old-Fashioned” Gout Is More Common Than Ever Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Gout was once known as \u201cthe disease of kings.\u201d The iconic sufferer was the gluttonous Henry VIII, often pictured holding an entire turkey leg in one hand and a tankard of wine in the other. Some people speculate that Old King Hal\u2019s increasingly irascible temper was caused in part by gout, a form of arthritis long associated with overindulgence, which causes attacks of intense pain in the joints.<\/p>\n

Gout most commonly strikes the joints of the big toe. Other affected sites might include the ankle, heel, knees, wrists, fingers or elbow. And while some people think gout is an old-fashioned disease, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says gout is on the rise today.<\/p>\n

What causes gout?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) explains that gout results when excess uric acid builds up in the bloodstream, caused by the breakdown of substances called purines, which are found in the tissues of our body and in some of the foods we eat. Normally, uric acid dissolves and passes out of the body. But if our bodies produce too much uric acid, or our kidneys don\u2019t do a good enough job of getting rid of it, or if we eat too many foods that are high in purines, the uric acid can form needle-like crystals that are deposited in the joints, causing painful inflammation with swelling, redness, heat, stiffness\u2014and by all accounts, a great deal of pain.<\/p>\n

Though the causes of gout are more complicated than once thought, overindulgence in certain rich foods is still thought to be a factor. And today, we don\u2019t have to be royalty to have access to those foods! Says a leading expert on gout, Dr. Hyon K. Choi from Massachusetts General Hospital, \u201cWestern lifestyle factors\u2014including consumption of meats, fats, sugary sodas, and alcohol\u2014and risk factors including obesity, hypertension and chronic kidney disease all contribute to the increased frequency of gout, which now affects more than 8 million in the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gout also runs in families; a person whose family members have it are more likely to also develop the condition. Some people have an enzyme defect that reduces their bodies\u2019 ability to break down purines. And while gout is still more common among men, the rate is rising in women.<\/p>\n

Our increased longevity is another part of the picture. A longer life gives gout more time to develop. And some of the medications more commonly taken by seniors are known to increase the level of uric acid in the body. Those drugs include diuretics, levodopa, cyclosporine and aspirin.<\/p>\n

How is gout diagnosed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

NIAMS reports that gout can be difficult to diagnose. The symptoms can be vague and can mimic other diseases. Telltale signs include an attack of arthritis in only one joint, often the toe, ankle or knee. The attack often develops quickly, and the joint is swollen, red and warm.
\nTo confirm the diagnosis, a doctor may insert a needle into an inflamed joint and examine the fluid for the crystals associated with gout.<\/p>\n

Treating gout and preventing another attack<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gout is treated with medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and a drug called colchicine.<\/p>\n

Lifestyle changes can also control recurrences of gout. These include:<\/p>\n