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What Is Gout ?
If there is one medical condition that has been mentioned in the pages of history going back to the times of Hippocrates, it is gout. In those days, it was referred to as 'the disease of kings' or the 'the king of diseases'. Gout is a medical problem characterized by the occurrence of severe attacks of arthritis. These attacks lead to extreme swelling and pain in joints. |
As the disease progresses, the attacks become more frequent affecting many joints in the body. The fundamental cause of this disease is the excessive accumulation of uric acid in the body. Three major reasons have been identified for this uric acid buildup. Firstly, the body could be producing greater extent of uric acid. The second reason could be the body’s incapability to eliminate substantial amounts of uric acid. Thirdly, high level of consumption of food items rich in purines such as meat, sea food, dried peas and beans; whose metabolism results in the formation of uric acid.
Whatever the reasons may be, high level of uric acid in the blood accumulates in the joints resulting in inflammation and acute pain. The attacks of gout are sudden and aggressive. In most cases, the big toe is the first location of the attack. The incidence of gout occurrence has been evaluated to be about 840 in the total strength of 100,000 people. Men are observed to suffer from this disease at a much younger age. Also, there is a definite link between gout and medical conditions such as obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. For immediate relief, doctors prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), steroids, or colchicine. Thereafter, certain alterations in one’s lifestyle are recommended to prevent subsequent attacks. Although colchicine is an older medicine, owing to its side effects these days NSAID is used more often.
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What Is Gout ?
