Gout Disease: Gout Disease is one type of arthritis. They both cause pain and inflammation, but gouty or gouty arthritis causes the most pain. Gout is a condition that causes inflammation in the joints. Gout Disease is caused by Uric Acid. Although it is normal to have some amount of this acid in your body, someone suffering from gout may have increased levels or hyperuricemia. Consuming high levels of this acid in foods can cause the body to build up. Gouty disease is often called the Rich Man’s Disease.
Uric Acid
This is because the food sources that uric acid is deposited into your body are high. Why does the body retain uric acid? Normally, the body can eliminate uric acid that has accumulated. Hyperuricemia occurs when there is more uric acid than elimination. Consuming too much food high in uric acid – this is a common reason for an increase in this acid.
- Genetics – Rare genetic disorders can cause excessive uric acid production.
- Problematic Kidneys: Uric acid is excreted from the body through the urine. If the kidney function is impaired, the chemical will be removed slower. This allows the body to accumulate the acid.
Gouty Disease Mostly afflicts Men. Gouty Disease affects approximately 95% of men, but it can also affect women at a lower percentage. Gouty disease is most common in older men over 50 who suffer from severe pain. However, there are rare cases where younger males experience symptoms.
Gouty Disease
How does it manifest in the body? The MTP, or metatarsophalangeal, is the first and most common affected joint of gouty arthritis. This is the big toe. The pain is usually felt at its base joint. Later pain attacks will begin in the mid-foot and progress to the heel and ankle until the knee joint is swollen. Gouty Arthritis does not attack one joint at a given time. This is a classic sign that the disease is present. As the disease progresses, the pain will get worse, last longer, and in extreme cases, may affect more than one joint.
How is Gout Diagnosed? The first sign of gout can be found in the patient’s symptoms. Gouty arthritis is a condition that occurs very often in one area and can be very painful. To help with the initial diagnosis, it is common to ask about family history and questions about diet and lifestyle.