Gout is a form of arthritis caused by uric acid buildup in the joints. Uric acid is the release of purines that you get from certain foods. It is a severe form of arthritis, causing attacks of pain at night mostly. Swelling, redness, and tenderness in the joints are most common in the big toe.
Gout is a common and complex form of arthritis that can affect anyone. It’s characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in one or more joints, most often in the big toe. An attack of gout can develop suddenly and often come in the middle of the night when sleeping. A person with gout experiences a fire sensation in the big toe. Even the weight of the paper seems to be intolerable.
Gout is one of the most severe and frequent medical conditions that can hit people of any age group, primarily in the elderly.
What are the signs and symptoms of Gout?
The signs and symptoms of Gout often occur at night. They may include:
Intense joint pain. Gout primarily affects the big toe, but the chances of hitting any joint are more. It can trigger pain in the knees, ankles, fingers, elbows, wrists, among others. The pain is severe within the first few hours and relapses after 12 hours.
Limited motion. As the gout stages, a person may find it hard to move the joints.
Discomfort. Discomfort in joints may last from a few days to a few weeks.
Inflammation. These attacks are likely to last longer and cause inflammation and redness. The affected portion can be tender, warm, and red.
If you don’t treat gout, it can become chronic. Hard lumps called tophi can eventually develop in your joints and the skin and soft tissue surrounding them. These deposits can permanently damage your joints.
When to see a doctor
If you feel intense and sudden pain in a joint, seek medical care. If you have a fever and a joint is hot and inflamed due to infection, consult your doctor without delay.
Proper treatment is necessary to prevent gout from turning chronic.
What are the causes of gout?
Gout occurs when crystals of uric acid form in the joints, causing inflammation and pain in the affected area. The body produces uric acid when a diet rich in purine is consumed. Purines are naturally found in some foods such as red meat, organ meat, seafood, including sardines, trout, tuna, mussels, alcoholic beverages, and sweetened fruit sugar.
Usually, uric acid dissolves in the blood and is transported to the kidneys through the bloodstream. It is then made to pass out into the urine. But sometimes, either when your body produces uric acid in excess or your kidney function is at risk, uric acid may buildup.
This uric acid buildup may restore itself to any joint or its surrounding tissue, causing inflammation and swelling.
The other causes may include:
- If you are overweight, the body produces excess uric acid, and the kidneys may not excrete all of them.
- Medical conditions. Medical conditions also increase the risk of gout, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, kidney disease, to name a few.
- A family history of gout. If anyone in your family has had gout, your chances of having it increase many times. This is especially true when you have a first-degree relative.
- Age and gender. Gout is more common in men, primarily because women already have low uric acid. After menopause, their levels reach those of men.
- Surgery or trauma. Surgery or trauma can also trigger a gout attack. If you are taking a vaccination, this may also trigger a gout attack.
- Certain medications. Aspirin and some medications used to regulate hypertension also increase uric acid levels.
Complications
People with gout can develop many serious complications, such as:
Recurrent gout: Some people may experience relapses of gout symptoms. Ayurvedic treatment can be taken to prevent the recurrence of gout. Ayurveda has the tendency to prevent the root cause of the problem.
Advanced gout. Untreated gout may cause urate crystals to form in the skin nodules. This is called tophi which occurs in other joints such as feet, elbows, hands, etc.
Kidney stones. If the uric acid builds up in the urinary tract, it causes a condition called kidney stones.
Diagnostic tests
These tests are helpful in the diagnosis of gout.
Blood tests. To measure the level of uric acid in the blood. But the blood test usually you do not indicate gout. Some people may have signs of gout but do not have high uric acid otherwise.
Joint fluid test. The doctor may drain excess fluid from the joint and examine it for urate crystals.
Urine test. Urine tests are also done to examine kidney function.
X-ray imaging. X-rays can be done to evaluate the cause of inflammation in the joints.
Ayurvedic treatment for gout
The management of gout involves medicinal herbs to prevent uric acid buildup. Ayurveda calls it a disease of Vata aggravation that attacks blood vessels. The impairment of Vata and Rakta Dhatus results in the buildup of uric acid. This uric acid results in crystal formation that may damage the joint.
The causes include excessive aggression, waking up late till night, excessive traveling, physical exercise, sexual activity, and not drinking enough fluid.