what to do when having a gout attack

Overview

What is gout?

Doctors place gout under the umbrella term "arthritis" — a wide range of joint diseases and joint pain. Some forms of arthritis inflame joints, while others don't. Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis. Information technology'south due to a crystal called uric acrid.

Gout causes hurting and swelling in one or more joints. It typically affects the large toe. But it's too establish in other joints, including the knee, ankle, human foot, hand, wrist and elbow.

Who is affected by gout?

Gout tin can affect anyone. It ordinarily occurs earlier in men than women. It by and large occurs after menopause in women. Men can be three times more than likely than women to go information technology because they have higher levels of uric acid most of their lives. Women reach these uric acid levels subsequently menopause.

People are more than likely to become gout if they take:

Obesity, or a lot of extra weight.
Congestive centre failure.
Diabetes.
Family history of gout.
Hypertension (high blood pressure).
Kidney disease.

Yous are also more than likely to develop gout if y'all:

Consume a diet high in animal proteins
Consume a significant amount of alcohol
Are on water pills (diuretics).

Symptoms and Causes

What causes gout?

The homo body makes uric acid during the breakup of chemicals called purines found in certain food and drinks. This normal byproduct goes through the kidneys and exits the body when you pee.

Sometimes the trunk produces likewise much uric acrid. Or the kidneys can't do a proficient task treatment it. When the trunk has high levels of uric acrid, or hyperuricemia, uric acid crystals tin concentrate in the joints. The abrupt, needle-similar crystals cause gout. Yet, many people with higher uric acid levels never get gout.

What are the symptoms of gout?

An episode of gout is called a gout attack. Gout attacks are very painful and can happen quite of a sudden, oftentimes overnight. During a gout attack, symptoms in the affected joint(due south) may include:

Intense hurting.
Redness.
Stiffness.
Swelling.
Tenderness, even to light touch, such as from a bedsheet.
Warmth, or a feeling like the joint is "on burn."
How long does a gout assault terminal?

A gout assault can concluding a week or two. Between gout attacks, y'all may have no symptoms at all.

How often do gout attacks happen?

Some people have gout attacks frequently, while others go years between episodes. If gout isn't treated, attacks may become more frequent and last longer. Gout attacks can happen over and over again in the aforementioned joint or affect unlike joints.

Diagnosis and Tests

How does a doctor diagnose gout?

If you lot have sudden or severe pain in a joint, y'all should talk to your primary intendance provider (PCP). Your PCP may send you to a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in gout and other kinds of arthritis.

Healthcare providers consider several things when confirming gout:

Symptoms: The provider will inquire yous to describe your symptoms, how often they happen and how long they terminal.
Physical examination: Your provider volition examine the affected articulation(due south) to look for swelling, redness and warmth.
Claret work: A exam can measure the amount of uric acid in your blood.
Imaging tests: You may have pictures taken of the afflicted articulation(southward) with Ten-rays, an ultrasound or MRI.
Aspiration: The provider may apply a needle to pull fluid from the joint. Using a microscope, a squad member can look for uric acrid crystals (confirming gout) or a dissimilar problem (such as bacteria with infection or other blazon of crystal).

Management and Treatment

How is gout treated?

Your healthcare provider may prescribe certain medications to treat gout.

Some drugs help control symptoms:

NSAIDs can reduce hurting and swelling. Some people with kidney disease, breadbasket ulcers and other health problems are unable to accept NSAIDs.
Colchicine can reduce inflammation and pain if you take information technology within 24 hours of a gout attack. It'southward given past mouth.
Corticosteroids can save pain and swelling. You have steroids past mouth or with an injection.

Drugs that help lower levels of uric acid in your body to prevent or reduce future episodes of gout attacks:

Allopurinol, taken every bit a pill.
Febuxostat, taken every bit a pill.
Pegloticase, given as an intravenous (in the vein) infusion.
Probenecid, taken as a pill.

Prevention

Can I forbid gout?

You can make certain lifestyle changes to help prevent gout:

Beverage enough of h2o to help your kidneys role amend and avoid aridity.
Practice regularly to stay at a healthy weight. Extra weight increases uric acrid in your body and puts more stress on joints.

Practice your best to limit the purines in your trunk, since these chemicals can trigger uric acid buildup. Foods and drinks containing high purine levels include:

Booze.
Scarlet meat and organ meats (liver, for example).
Shellfish.
Gravy.
Drinks and foods high in fructose (fruit sugar).
Protein from fauna sources. All protein from animal flesh can potentially lead to elevated uric acrid levels.

Sure medications can lead to elevated uric acid levels. These medications include:

Diuretics, as well known equally "h2o pills."
Immunosuppressants, or drugs used to tedious the immune system (common in organ transplants, for example).

Outlook / Prognosis

When should I call my healthcare provider about gout symptoms?

If you lot feel sudden, intense hurting in a joint, call a healthcare provider correct away. If the joint is hot and inflamed, you might take gout — or you lot might have some other problem similar an infection.

What'due south the outlook for people with gout?

Untreated gout can lead to permanent joint damage. The buildup of uric acrid in the joints and soft tissue is called tophus. Some people with gout can also develop other health bug, such equally severe arthritis, kidney stones and heart disease. It's important to discuss your symptoms with a healthcare provider.

Living With

How tin can I manage a gout attack?

When you lot have a gout assail, y'all can manage your symptoms past:

Fugitive alcohol and sweet drinks.
Drinking plenty of fluids.
Elevating the joint(s).
Putting water ice on the joint(southward).
Limiting any stress on the joint(s).

What else should I enquire my healthcare provider about gout?

Consider asking your healthcare provider:

What is causing the gout?
Do I have whatsoever joint harm?
What can I do to preclude hereafter attacks?
Can any gout medications assistance me?
How long will I need to take gout medications?

A note from Cleveland Dispensary

Gout is a painful class of arthritis. Extra uric acrid in your body creates sharp crystals in the joints, leading to swelling and extreme tenderness. Gout usually starts in the big toe merely tin can affect other joints. Gout is a treatable condition, and the uric acrid level can be decreased by medication and lifestyle changes. Talk to your healthcare provider well-nigh medications that tin can reduce uric acid levels. They can also discuss changes you tin make to your diet and lifestyle to foreclose and reduce gout attacks.

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Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4755-gout