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6 Strange Gout Facts You Probably Didn't Know

2 min read

A gout is a form of arthritis that is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness, and swelling in the joints. The condition is caused by a build-up of uric acid in the blood. Although gout is not a common condition, gout does affect million of the population worldwide. Here are 6 strange facts about gout that you may not know:

1. Gout is More Common in Men:

Gout is more common in men than women. This is likely because the protective effects of estrogen are absent in men. Estrogen appears to decrease uric acid levels and protect the joints from inflammation. Additionally, men are more likely to have high blood pressure and obesity, both of which are risk factors for gout.

2. Eating Red Meat Isn't The Only Thing That Causes Gout:

Foods that are high in purines, like red meat, can increase the risk of gout, but they are not the only cause. Other factors that can increase your risk include obesity, drinking alcohol, and having a family history of gout.

3. Gout Can Affect Anyone at Any Age:

Gout can also occur in young people who have not yet reached adulthood. In fact, gout is becoming increasingly common in young people. This may be due to the trend towards eating more high-purine foods, such as red meat and seafood.

4. Gout Can Cause Serious Health Problems If It's Not Treated:

If you have gout, it's important to get it treated. Left untreated, gout can cause serious health problems. These health problems may include:

Kidney stones
Joint damage
Heart disease
High blood pressure

5. Some People With Gout Experience No Symptoms At All:

Gout is a type of arthritis that results when uric acid levels in the blood become too high. For many people, gout causes severe pain and swelling in the joints. But for some people, gout can cause no symptoms at all. In fact, up to 50 per cent of people with gout may not experience any symptoms. This is known as asymptomatic gout. However, this doesn't mean that this group of people will not have other health conditions due to constant high uric acid levels.

6. Gout Does Not Only Occur In Big Toe:

Many people believe that gout is most commonly found in the big toe area. It can also affect other joints, including the ankle, knee, and elbow.

Conclusion

In conclusion, here are five strange facts about gout you may not have known. Gout is a type of arthritis that is caused by a build-up of uric acid crystals in the joints. It can cause severe pain, inflammation, and swelling. Some people may be more at risk for developing gout than others.

There are some things you can do to help reduce your risk of getting gout, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. To manage body uric acid levels for long-term health benefits, you can take supplements like CrystaGuard.

Is Gout and Osteoarthritis Interrelated?

2 min read

You might think you have osteoarthritis (OA) if your knee is swollen and stiff, but it could also be gout. Both illnesses have a lot in common, just like many near relatives. You might be unsure which one is causing your symptoms because they typically occur jointly together.

OA is a degenerative condition that causes the cartilage that cushions bones to break down over time. It affects joints such as the knees, hips, fingers, lower back, and neck, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. Uric acid crystals form in the joints of people who have gout. Gout most commonly affects the big toe joint, however, it can also affect the ankles, knees, hands, and wrists. Gout patients with high uric acid levels may affect other body organs as well.

Knowing which problem you have, or whether you have both gout and osteoarthritis—can assist your doctor in fine-tuning your treatment.

Gout and OA are frequently coexist

People with uric acid deposits in their joints are more likely to get OA in those same joints, according to a study by Duke University Medical Center. Gout patients are also more likely to develop severe OA. According to researchers, uric acid crystals may induce an inflammatory response that causes OA joint degeneration.

On the other hand, those with osteoarthritis can be triggered to acquire gout also. One explanation is that OA causes joint deterioration, which produces an environment that favours the formation of uric acid deposits.

The same inflammatory processes that damage joints could underlie both OA and gout. And the two conditions share a few common risk factors—including obesity. Extra weight both increases the production of uric acid and puts more strain on joints.

How to know whether I have gout or OA?

Despite the fact that gout and OA can affect the same joints at the same time, there are techniques for your doctor to distinguish between the two. Gout is characterised by bouts of pain, swelling, warmth, and redness in a single joint, most commonly the big toe. While OA is more chronic, waxing and waning in nature, it does not begin as abruptly as gout.

If your symptoms don't reveal the source of your joint pain, your doctor can conduct tests to discover if you have excessive uric acid levels in the affected joint.

Treating Gout and OA

Other than relying on medication such as pain killers, treatment for gout and OA relies heavily on lifestyle changes. Restricting high purine foods and weight loss can avoid high uric acid levels and relieve strain on the painful joints.

It is critical for gout patients to keep their uric acid levels under control at all times. Although OA was often thought to be an untreatable disease of passive degeneration, the efficacy of urate-lowering medications or supplements used to treat hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis may be useful in the preventive treatment of OA. Find out the comparison of uric acid supplements available in Malaysia.

This Reunion Celebration, Reduce Your Gout Inflammation by Eating the Right Foods

2 min read

Many of us enjoy feasts, but overindulging can raise the chance of a gout attack! There appears to be an upsurge in gout attacks, especially during the reunion celebration such as CNY or Raya.

The bulk of gout patients used to be in their 50s or 60s, but the ailment is now being treated in younger patients as well. Because hyperuricemia (a high amount of uric acid in the blood) and gout have been related to chronic kidney disease (CKD), it is recommended that anyone who has a history of a gout attack control and reduce purine-rich meals during this CNY.

Lower your gout inflammation this CNY

Avoid high purine meat

This CNY, replace red meat and shellfish with white meat and simmer fish.

Avoid high purine vegetable

Uric acid levels can be raised by eating certain vegetables such as spinach, mushrooms, cauliflower, and asparagus.

Choose wisely your drink

Beer and liquor can cause a gout flare-up by raising uric acid levels in the blood. They can also cause dehydration, which is a common cause of gout. Wine, in moderation, may be a safer option.

Do you have gout attacks on a regular basis? There is a link between it and kidney disease!

Although some people may believe that having a gout attack isn't a huge concern, they may seek pain relief to alleviate their misery. Recurrent gout attacks, on the other hand, may suggest an increased risk of kidney damage.

Take care of your food choices, manage your uric acid level, and have a happy and healthier reunion dinner in this 2022 CNY.