Gout

Gout or gouty disease is a pathology produced by an increase in the levels of uric acid in the blood (hyperuricemia) that causes the accumulation of urate crystals in a joint, causing sudden inflammation and pain. The joint most affected is the first metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot. Its prevalence is approximately 1% in developed countries.

The cause of gout is the appearance of urate crystals in the joint, which causes inflammation and pain. The formation of these crystals is caused by increased levels of uric acid in the blood, a product of the breakdown of purines, which are substances that are naturally present in the body and in many foods.

Among the risk factors associated with gouty disease are:

• Diet. Excessive consumption of foods rich in purines such as red meat, seafood, sugary drinks, or alcohol significantly increases the risk of suffering from the disease.
• In overweight people, the body produces more uric acid and the kidneys have less capacity to eliminate it.
• Untreated medical conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity or kidney disease.
• Certain medications, such as some diuretics, hypertension drugs or beta-blockers.
• It tends to develop between the ages of 30 and 50.
• Men are more likely to suffer from it, although, after menopause, women's risk becomes equal to that of men.

Essentially, gout produces arthritis (joint inflammation), almost always acutely and in a single joint, which can become intensely inflamed in a few hours. When the joint becomes inflamed it swells, its surface can become reddened, and it almost always becomes intensely painful, so that mobility can be affected by the pain itself. Sometimes the inflammation may be less intense and the discomfort more bearable.

The joints in which one can suffer gout attacks are diverse, but the most common are the big toe (which are called podagra attacks), instep, ankle, knee, wrist or some joints of the fingers of the hand.

Gout is a largely preventable disease, mainly by avoiding risk factors. The recommended actions are the following:

• Maintain a healthy weight. Obese people are more prone to suffer gout attacks.
• Eat a healthy diet, avoiding the consumption of red meat, seafood, oily or blue fish, and favoring the intake of fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid consumption of alcohol and carbonated beverages.
• Keep a good health control, especially of pathologies such as hypertension, diabetes or heart disease.