Has Gout Got Your Goat? Six Ways To Lower Your Risk
Gout is a type of arthritis, a disease that causes inflammation in your joints. Gout can include pain and redness, and it often occurs in the big toe. The Mayo Clinic reports that both men and women can get gout, but that men are significantly more at risk. Johns Hopkins states that gout is caused by a failure of the body to break down uric acid, leaving the uric acid crystals in the blood. Severe gout can even lead to serious disorders like kidney disease. Fortunately there are ways to prevent your chances of getting gout. Here are five of them.
Avoid These Foods
Many patients have found that they can help control outbreaks of gout through careful observance of a specialized diet. These are some of the foods to avoid if you are at risk for outbreaks of gout.
- sardines
- meat
- muscles
- yeast
- bacon
Seafood and meat seem to be the most problematic foods when it comes to gout.
Eliminate or Reduce Drinking
Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of gout because the high purine content causes your body to produce more uric acid. Beer is especially bad for people with gout because of its high purine and yeast content.
Take Prescription Medication
You can take medication that will reduce the amount of uric acid your body produces or will air your body in releasing those uric acid crystals. Talk to your doctor about which type of medication is right for you as well as any other treatments or preventative measures that may help in your specific situation.
Monitor Medications
Some prescription and over the counter medications can raise your risk of a gout occurrence. Medications that may cause a flare up include certain high blood pressure medications, aspirin products and medications prescribed to avoid bad reactions to transplants.
Talk to your doctor about your prescription medications if you are at risk for gout.
Stay Hydrated
Gout is more likely to occur if you are not drinking enough water. You can flush some of the uric acid from your system by drinking plenty of water.
Talk to Your Family
Gout can be hereditary, and your chances of experiencing gout are significantly higher if you have a parent with the disease. Talk to your family about their experiences with gout and which treatments or preventative measures have worked for them and which have not.
Gout is a type of arthritis that can be very painful. You can reduce your risk of a gout flare-up by watching what you eat and paying attention to other factors. When in doubt, consult your doctor, and for further assistance, consider joining a gout cardiovascular disease study.