Gout

What is gout and how is it caused?

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that results from a high concentration of uric acid in our blood. Uric acid builds up in our bodies from the food we eat as part of a regular diet. It’s a by-product of our bodies breaking down purines – chemicals naturally found in our food. Sometimes, the kidneys have difficulty processing and getting rid of uric acid at a normal rate, and sometimes the production of uric acid is just too high. Either way, we’re left with much more uric acid left in our blood than we should normally have. A gout attack happens when the uric acid crystallises in a joint and for 90% of those with gout, this will happen at their big toe among other joints. This is because uric acid crystallises in cooler temperatures and our feet are often the coolest part of our body. It is these stiff crystals that can cause severe pain and discomfort.    

Otherwise known as the Rich Man’s Disease

Long ago, gout was referred to as the ‘Rich Man’s Disease’ because it was noted that gout primarily affected people that were wealthy. This is because certain (expensive) foods contain much higher levels of purines – like red meats, shellfish, red wine and beer – which the rich could afford much more of. This still holds true today, in the context that if you’d like to lower your chance of having a flare-up of gout, you should cut back on these more expensive foods.    

What are the symptoms?

Gout can feel excruciatingly painful during an ‘attack’ or ‘flare up’. Symptoms generally include:

• Intense pain
• Sudden onset, day or night
• Swelling
• Affected joint can be warm and red

 

Who is at risk?

Aside from consuming high levels of purines, genetic factors also often come into play. That is, if one of your family members has gout, you’re more likely to develop it too. Other factors include diuretic medications, aspirin and niacin (all which impair the body’s ability to remove uric acid from the blood), stress, diabetes, high blood pressure, surgery and obesity, among others. While gout can occur at any age, it typically affects men aged between 30 and 60 years old.  

How is gout treated?

If you haven’t already confirmed a diagnosis of gout with your GP, that’s the first place to start. While gout can’t be ‘cured’, it can be managed to reduce your symptoms and prevent future onset. There are medications available to help with this. Next, we recommend taking small steps to reduce the likelihood of flares such as wearing warm socks and keeping your feet warm. Staying active and exercising (when you don’t have a flare) will help manage other factors that contribute factors to gout, such as obesity, stress and diabetes. If you’re having a flare, make sure you don’t add additional pressure to the joint and that your shoes are helping and not hindering your pain and mobility. Your Podiatrist can help with this by conducting a thorough biomechanical examination of your feet and legs. Any issues identified that may be contributing to your pain or discomfort can be addressed, often with the use of orthotics to help relieve painful symptoms from restrictions in the mobility of your feet.