Health and Wellness

Written By: Mr. Scott Siewert, Director

Article:   “Gout The forgotten Inflammatory Arthritic Disease”

In this month column for Health & Wellness I wanted to touch on the topic of Gout. Gout is a complex disorder that can affect anyone. Men more likely to get gout than women, but women become more susceptible to get Gout after menopause.
Gout occurs when ureic crystals accumulate around your joint, causing the inflammation and intense pain. Ureic crystals can form when you have high levels of uric acid in your blood. Your body produces purines, substances that are found naturally in the body, as well as in certain food.

Normally, uric acid dissolves in your blood and passes through the kidneys into your urine. But sometimes your body produces too much uric acid or your kidney’s excrete too little uric acid. This build up, forms the sharp needle like ureic crystals that cause the pain. 
In the beginning of symptoms of suspected Gout, most cases should be manageable in the primary care setting or clinic care. If this persists after the first phase of treatment, then other specialist may be needed. The specialist would include Rheumatologist, Orthopedist, and Podiatrist. 
The prevalence and incident of Gout has nearly double in the last ten years, partly because of a ageing population and a largely (out of shape) or obese men and women. (2.9/per 1000-1990 to (5.2/per 1000-1999). Acute Gout attacks are with severe pain typically within hours.
Resolution is within days to weeks even without treatment. About 80% of initial attacks usually occur in lower extremities, knees and ankle joints. Inflammation often exceeds well beyond the joint shelf.
Some dietary factors that may because , a large intake of meat and seafood. There is also a risk with alcohol consumption: beer, spirits, and wine. A slight risk with low fat dairy products is and no risk with pure rich vegetables. The risk of Gout is higher with Afro-Americans compared to caucasian by a 2 to 1 ratio.