Gout Risks, Symptoms, & Treatment
Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes pain and swelling in your joints. These flares typically last for a week, or two, and then resolve. However, the flare-ups are extremely painful.
Risk Factors for Developing Gout
Gout typically develops as someone is reaching middle age. It most commonly affects men as well as women who are post-menopause. If a younger person develops gout, it tends to be more severe.
Gout occurs when urate builds up and forms needle-shaped crystals in your joints, which leads to pain, swelling, redness, and changes in movement and use of the affected joints.
You may be at risk for developing gout if you:
- Have high urate levels
- Have a family history of gout
- Are male
- Are experiencing menopause or are post-menopause
- Frequently consume sugar-sweetened beverages like soda
- Have an unhealthy diet
You may also be at a higher risk of developing gout if you have health conditions, including:
- Being overweight
- Metabolic syndrome, including, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol levels, excess body fat around the waist
- Chronic kidney disease
- Psoriasis
- Cancer
- Rare genetic conditions that lead to increased urate, including, Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome and Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
Finally, you may be at risk of developing gout if you regularly take certain medications, including, but not limited to:
- Diuretics
- Low-dose aspirin
- Niacin (when taken in large amounts)
- Cyclosporine
Treatments for Gout
Gout is the second most common type of inflammatory arthritis. The main goals when treating gout include reducing pain, preventing future flare-ups, and preventing tophi and kidney stones. Options for treating and preventing gout include lifestyle changes and taking medication.
If you are experiencing symptoms of gout or have any of the risk factors, make an appointment to talk to a rheumatologist to decide on the best plan for you.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes, such as dieting and exercising to lose weight, can help reduce the number of gout attacks you experience. Common diet changes include decreasing your sodium intake and cutting back on your alcohol intake.
Anti-Inflammatory Medication
Because gout is an inflammatory arthritis, the easiest way to treat an attack is by taking anti-inflammatory medications. These medications will work best when taken early when a gout attack starts. Examples include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen
- Colchicine
- Corticosteroids
Uric Acid-Lowering Medication
Uric acid-lowering medications help to remove the main factor that causes gout, high urate levels. You will need to take this medication as long as you continue to not have symptoms of gout. If you were to stop taking the medication, your urate levels will rise, and you will begin to have gout attacks again. Medications include: