what is gout in residences: can they be avoided?
Aging, Health
Gout, one of the most painful forms of arthritis
The accumulation of uric acid in the blood causes acute pain in the joints, swelling and redness.
Historically associated with royalty, the upper classes and the popes, that is, all those who had access to opulent amounts of food, gout is a very painful type of inflammatory arthritis, which is estimated to affect between 1 and 2 percent of the population of the West and around 5-6 percent of those over 70 years.
However, there are investigations that have detected a resurgence of this pathology due to the increase in longevity, the increase in cases of hypertension and changes in diet, mainly due to the Western diet.
What is and what causes gout
It is an accumulation of uric acid in the blood when the kidneys can not discard the compound at the necessary rate. Normal levels of a single acid are considered between 2.4 and 6 mg / dL in the case of women and 3.4 to 7 mg / dL in the case of men.
According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the United States on its website, the accumulation of uric acid can cause:
Deposits of uric acid crystals in the joints or joints, mainly in the big toe, but also in the arch of the foot, ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers and elbows.
Deposits in the form of lumps under the skin (tophi).
Kidney stones
Uric acid usually dissolves in the blood, passes through the kidneys and is excreted in the urine. However, there are situations in which the body increases the amount of uric acid it generates, the kidneys do not eliminate it sufficiently or consume many foods rich in substances called purines, which are found in all tissues of the body and whose decomposition gives rise to uric acid.
It can be called acute gout-a painful condition that only affects one joint-or chronic gout-when repetitive episodes of pain and inflammation occur and there is more than one affected joint.
What are the symptoms
Being a man, having a family history of this disease, being overweight, drinking a lot of alcohol, eating foods rich in purines, having a transplanted organ, having a defective enzyme that hinders the decomposition of purines, exposure to lead, certain medications, such as diuretics , 'Aspirin', cyclosporine or levodopa, as well as taking vitamin niacin can raise the chances of suffering a gout attack.
Also, as people age, this accumulation of uric acid is more possible. There are also diseases that can increase the risk of suffering it, such as kidney disease, diabetes, anemia, leukemia and other blood cancers, as reported by the National Library of Health of the United States.
Drop
Actually, the high concentration of uric acid in the blood is called hyperuricemia, a situation that does not always trigger in gout. Among the most common symptoms of this type of inflammatory arthritis, are:
Pain.
Swelling.
Redness
Hot.
Rigidity of the joint.
Sometimes, fever.
The attack of gout usually begins with throbbing, oppressive and unbearable pain in a joint, which arises suddenly, usually at night, and which is more painful when touched. After a few days, the attack may disappear and return sometimes, but with a longer duration. A new attack usually occurs between the next six and 12 months.
Treatments and remedies against gout
Among the medications to combat a gout attack are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen; stronger analgesics such as codeine; corticosteroids, such as prednisone; or a drug called colchicine, which reduces pain, inflammation, and swelling. Pain can also be relieved by placing cold compresses on the joint.
Although with this type of medicine the pain usually disappears after 12 hours, the doctor could prescribe a drug to reduce the levels of uric acid. It is usually given to patients who suffer several attacks in the same year or are very intense, have tophi, with damaged joints or who suffer from kidney disease or kidney stones of uric acid.
In addition, it is convenient to make lifestyle changes to avoid further imbalances in the elimination of uric acid from the body, such as:
Reduce the consumption of alcohol, animal protein (red meat, especially) and sugary drinks.
Exercise daily.
Opt for healthy foods, such as vegetables, legumes, fruits, whole grains and dairy products.
Drink a lot of water.
A study by Harvard University in the United States, presented in May this year, suggested that the diet called DASH, for its acronym in English of 'dietary method to stop hypertension' could prevent joint pain caused by the drop. This regimen consists essentially in eating lots of fruit and vegetables and minimizing the levels of salt, sugar, red meat and organ meats.
Famous people with drop
As we said at the beginning, gout is a disease famous in history since many personalities have suffered it. An example among royalty is the fourteenth-century British king, Henry VII, whose obesity and large food and alcoholic beverages took its toll on gout attacks.
Another king, but this time from Spain, was also affected by this type of inflammatory arthritis. It was Felipe II (1527-1598), whom this pathology left him in bed during his last ten years, losing even the mobility of his right hand. Among the most current rulers, is Dick Cheney, who was 46 vice president of the United States in the mandate of George W. Bush, who had to take medication to treat gout.
Even among athletes this disease has occurred. NBA basketball coach Maurice Cheeks has suffered from gout pains. In the world of music, Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti suffered gout due to his excess weight.
In the field of actors, we can mention the American actor Jared Leto, to whom an increase in weight to embody a character in a movie led him to suffer attacks of gout that prevented him from even walking; or the actor and comedian Jim Bleushi, who has also been plagued by this disorder.
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