Gout Prevention is Not Difficult

Gout is a condition which causes pain, inflammation and swelling in one or more of the joints. In most cases, it attacks the big toe, but can gradually develop in any other joint on your body. If you can't sleep and wake up in the night because of unbearable pains, feeling hot, swollen and tender; it indicates that an acute case of gout is attacking you. Gout attacks are mostly unpredictable; they can occur suddenly and lasts for several days. If left untreated, it may last for longer and reoccur. Though this may sound a little scary, there are things you can do to prevent it.

Gout can be easily treated, and effective prevention methods do exist. Gout is caused by the accumulation of uric acid in your blood steam and around your joints. Your body produces uric acid when it breaks down such substances as purines, which can be found in your body. Normally, uric acid dissolves in your blood and is passed through your kidneys into your urine. But when your body produces more uric acid or your kidneys excrete less uric acid, gout occurs urate crystals, the main culprits of pains and inflammation, are formed.

Gout can affect anybody, but men are more likely to develop it than women are, as men have a higher level of uric acid in their bloodstream. However, as women approach menopause, they become susceptible to this condition. You are more likely to get gout if you have high level of uric acid in your system, and there are some factors known to elevate levels of uric acid. One of these is alcohol consumption. Generally a drink per day will increase the risk of gout. Secondly, family history is related to incidences of gout. If any of your family members ever had gout, you are more likely to get it too. There are certain medicines, such as thiazide diuretics and aspirin, that are known to increase levels of uric acid. Those risk factors require your attention.

A special diet targeting gout may be a good choice for you. There are no dietary changes that have been proven to reduce your risk of gout, but it might make sense to eat foods containing less protein. Such foods rich in proteins as lean meat, organ meats, seafood, and high-fat products should all be limited in your diet. Drink plenty of liquid, as this can dilute uric acid in your blood. If these preventive measures and medical treatments do not work as well as you'd hoped, try a natural treatment for gout, which contains ingredients functioning as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and which can also reduce the levels of uric acid in you body. Vitamins C is one such ingredient which can help uric acid to free itself from the tissues and be excreted in the urine.