Gout has plagued man for thousands of years, striking famous historical figures including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Henry VIII, and Sir Isaac Newton. The frequency of gout has now spread to the average man, doubling over the past two decades.
According to a new study, which was published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, 8.3 million American adults suffer from gout. Another 43.4 million have increased uric acid levels which put them at risk to develop the excruciatingly painful and debilitating disease. Experts suggest the increase in gout is due to escalating rates of obesity and hypertension.
Gout is a form of arthritis resulting from too much uric acid in the blood. Uric acid produces crystals that settle in joint tissues, especially in the joint of the big toe, and cause inflammation which leads to swelling and pain. About 90 percent of gout victims are men, and most are over the age of 45. Other risk factors include medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes, and medications, such as diuretics.
Gout attacks with little or no warning. "People have gout a long time before they realize it," Dr. Ray Sahelian, a nationally recognized expert on supplements and author of "Mind Boosters," tells Newsmax. Levels of uric acid slowly build in the body, causing no apparent symptoms.
Eventually, crystals of uric acid begin to form in joints, causing inflammation, swelling, and pain. Sufferers say gout pain is like walking with pieces of glass in their foot and feels as if their foot is going to explode. If gout isn't treated, it can spread to other joints and damage the liver, heart, and other organs.
Gout has long been associated with affluent lifestyles and diets that include abundant amounts of red meat, shellfish, dairy products, and alcohol. For decades, gout victims have been told to limit protein and to avoid foods rich in purines, such as beans. (Uric acid is caused by the breakdown of purines in the body.) But new research shows that neither protein nor beans increase gout risk.
Acute gout attacks are treated with NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin) and corticosteroids (steroid hormones). Frequent attacks — chronic gout — may be treated with long-term drugs such as allopurinol (to reduce the production of uric acid) or drugs such as probenecid (to increase the elimination of uric acid from the body).
Gout drugs come with many side effects, according to Sahelian: "I prescribe them short-term, but I'm uncomfortable with long-term use." Low kidney function can prohibit even short-term use of drugs.
Instead of drugs, says Sahelian, gout can be controlled by maintaining a normal weight, making wise food choices, and taking nutritional supplements that reduce risk.
