What is gout?

Gout is another type of inflammatory arthritis. In people with gout, uric acid crystallizes in the joints causing painful attacks. Gout often attacks the joint of the big toe. Habitual gout attacks can cause permanent joint damage. A gout attack can last a couple of days to as long as two weeks.

Gout has implications beyond the painful attacks. It has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), kidney stones, obesity and high lipid levels in the blood. Luckily, most people living with chronic gout can keep it under control with medication.

By diagnosing and treating gout early, the damage to the joints can be prevented or minimized. Early diagnosis and treatment lowers your chances of joint destruction or developing some of the disorders associated with gout.

Gout affects more than twice the number of men as women. Diet can play an important role in reducing the frequency of gout attacks. Avoiding or limiting the intake of foods rich in purine, a building block of uric acid, such as certain seafoods, red meat, alcohol and fructose found in soft drinks, may help reduce uric acid levels.