Home Medications and Treatments for Gout
Gout is a condition in which the body has a problem in the handling of uric acid. People with gout either produce too much uric acid or more commonly their bodies have a problem in removing it. It is a disease of the wealthy and chiefly affects middle-aged men. Women, after menopause, are also sometimes affected by this disease.
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Symptoms of Gout Acute pain in the toe, swelling
The most common Gout symptom is acute pain in the big toe, which becomes tender, hot, and swollen in a few hours. It may also similarly affect other joints such as the knees and wrists, and sometimes more than one joint may be affected at a time. The attack, usually occurs at midnight or in the early hours of the morning when the patient is suddenly awakened. The acute attack generally lasts for a week or so. During this period, the patient may run a slight fever, and feel disinclined to eat. A serious complication of gout is the presence of kidney stones containing uric acid. In some cases the kidneys get damaged and do not function properly. Causes of Gout Gout caused due to Uric Acid Crystals
One of main causes of gout is the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints, skin, and kidneys. Uric acid is an end product of the body's chemical processes. Those affected by gout have a higher level of uric acid in the blood than the normal, due either to formation of increased amounts or reduced amounts of acid being passed out by the kidneys in the urine. This uric acid usually remains dissolved in the blood. But when the blood becomes too full of it, the uric acid forms needle-shaped crystals in the joints which bring about attacks of gout.
Excessive alcohol, heredity, rich foods, lack of exercise also causes gout
Other causes of gout are heredity, alcoholic drinks, regular eating of foods rich in protein and carbohydrate, lack of proper exercise, and stress.
Treatment Of Gout Treating gout using Cherry
The cherry, sweet or sour, is considered in effective treating gout. To start with, the patient should consume about fifteen to twenty five cherries a day. Thereafter, about ten cherries a day will keep the ailment under control. While fresh cherries are best, canned cherries can also be used occasionally.
Gout treatment using Vegetable Juices
Raw vegetable juices are used for gout treatment. Carrot juice, in combination with the juices of beet and cucumber, is especially valuable. Beet juice - 100 ml and cucumber juice - 100 ml should be mixed with 300 ml of carrot juice to make 500 ml of combined juice and taken daily
Treating Gout using French Beans
The juice of French or string beans has also proved effective in treating gout. About 150 ml of this juice should be taken daily by the patient suffering from this disease.
Cure for Gout using Apple
Apples are regarded as an excellent source for curing gout. The malic acid contained in them is believed to neutralise the uric acid and afford relief to gout sufferers. The patient is advised to take one apple after each meal.
Gout relief using Banana
Bananas have been found beneficial in the treatment of gout. A diet of bananas only for three or four days is advised for providing some relief from gout. A patient can take eight or nine bananas daily during this period and nothing else.
Treating gout using Lime
Lime is also used as a source in treating gout. Vitamin C is known to prevent and cure sore joints by strengthening the connective tissues of the body. The citric acid found in lime is a solvent of the uric acid which is the primary cause of this disease. The juice of half a lime, squeezed into a glass of water, should be taken twice daily.
Gout Diet
Search if(zIrb){w('');adunit('','',uy,ch,gs,110,45,'2','ls',4);w(' ');} Arthritis if(z336>0){w(''+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,280,'2','bb',3);w(' ')} if(zp[2].d){w(x5+"dsp3C"+x1+q);adunit('','',uy,ch,gs,140,180,'1','i',1);w(x6)}if((z160>0)&&(zp[0].m&8)&&zIfw<900){w(x5+"oCtwr"+x1+q+at[4]);adunit('','',uy,ch,gs,zItw,600,'1','to',2);w(x6)} if(zp[8].d){w(x5+"dsp3Ca"+x1+q);Dsp(zp[8],'ip');w(x6)}if(zp[9].d){w(x5+"dsp3Cb"+x1+q);Dsp(zp[9],'ip');w(x6)} Gout Diet: Foods To Eat What Should You Have In Your Shopping Cart To Help Prevent Gout Attacks?What Is Gout? Gout is one of the most painful types of arthritis, and accounts for 5 percent of all cases of arthritis. Gout is characterized by sudden, severe bouts of redness, swelling, warmth, pain, and inflammation in one or more joints. Most commonly the big toe is the initial joint involved, but other joints may be involved initially or become involved in recurring attacks of gout. What Causes Gout? Gout results from the deposit of needle-like uric acid crystals in the connective tissue, the joint space between two bones, or both. Uric acid is the end-product caused by the breakdown of purines. Purines are naturally found in the body and are found in many foods. It is excess uric acid in the body which causes the formation of uric acid crystals. Excess uric acid (hyperuricemia) in the body can be caused by: - an increase in production of uric acid by the body
- under-elimination of uric acid by the kidneys
- increased intake of foods high in purines
Gout Risk Factor Quiz The Stages of Gout Gout can progress through four stages according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS): - Asymptomatic gout - There is elevated uric acid levels in the blood but no other symptoms. Typically, at this stage no treatment is required.
- Acute gouty arthritis - Hyperuricemia causes deposit of uric acid crystals in the joint spaces. The intense symptoms of pain and inflammation are experienced. Early, acute attacks usually subside within 3-10 days even without treatment.
- Interval gout - The period between acute gout attacks when there are no symptoms and there is normal joint function.
- Chronic tophaceous gout - The most disabling stage of gout which occurs after many years, associated with permanent damage to the affected joints and sometimes the kidneys.
Is It Gout or Pseudogout? Gout Treatment With proper treatment, people who have gout do not usually progress to the chronic tophaceous phase of gout. What is the proper treatment of gout? Medications can be prescribed to help control gout and there are lifestyle recommendations. People with gout are advised to: How To Treat Gout With Diet And Medication What Should You Eat? Dietary restrictions suggest what people should not eat, but what should people eat? What foods will help control gout attacks? The American Medical Association recommends the following dietary guidelines for people with gout, advising them to eat a diet: - high in complex carbohydrates (fiber-rich whole grains, fruits, and vegetables)
- low in protein (15% of calories and sources should be soy, lean meats, or poultry)
- no more than 30% of calories in fat (with only 10% animal fats)
Recommended Foods To Eat - Fresh cherries, strawberries, blueberries, and other red-blue berries
- Bananas
- Celery
- Tomatoes
- Vegetables including kale, cabbage, parsley, green-leafy vegetables
- Foods high in bromelain (pineapple)
- Foods high in vitamin C (red cabbage, red bell peppers, tangerines, mandarins, oranges, potatoes)
- Drink fruit juices and purified water (8 glasses of water per day)
- Low-fat dairy products
- Complex carbohydrates (breads, cereals, pasta, rice, as well as aforementioned vegetables and fruits)
- Chocolate, cocoa
- Coffee, tea
- Carbonated beverages
- Essential fatty acids (tuna and salmon, flaxseed, nuts, seeds)
- Tofu, although a legume and made from soybeans, may be a better choice than meat
Foods considered moderately high in purines but which may not raise the risk of gout include: asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, peas, spinach, whole grain breads and cereals, chicken, duck, ham, turkey, kidney and lima beans. It is important to remember that purines are found in all protein foods. All sources of purines should not be eliminated.
Other effective Remedies for Gout
Warm water enema
A warm-water enema should be used daily during the period of fasting to cleanse the bowels.
Epsom salt bath
Epsom salts foot baths are advised twice daily. About 250 gm - 500gm of these salts may be added to tolerably hot water for this purpose. Full Epsom salt baths should also be taken three times a week. The baths may be reduced to two per week later.
Cold packs, fresh air, exercise, reduced stress
Cold packs, applied to the affected joints at night, will be beneficial. Fresh air and outdoor exercise are also essential. The patient should eliminate as much stress from his life as possible.
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Gout
