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Pod Co Podiatry June 2016 Newsletter 
Gout, gout will make you pout: Why you REALLY get gout and how to prevent it

Hi <<First Name>>,
Known in the past as the “kings disease” gout has a ye olde reputation for affecting fat rich men - such as King Henry VIII – and causing crippling pain and disability.
Though these days we know a lot more about this disease, people still believe that gout is the affliction of alcoholics and can therefore be extremely embarrassed about suffering with it.
As with any of the myriad of diseases we as humans can have, there is no need to feel shameful about having gout.  Let’s clear up the myths right now to make you all feel better about seeking help when you need to.

What is it?

Gout is known as a crystal arthropathy – that is an inflammatory arthritis caused by deposits of crystals in the joints. High levels of uric acid in the blood cause the crystals.  Uric acid is formed by the breakdown of certain foods and cells that contain purines.
Gout will often affect the foot joints including the big toe and around the mid-foot area but can be known to affect the hands as well.  When you are having a gouty attack, the affected joint will swell, become very red, hot and painful and if the joint affected is in the foot, you will have difficulty walking.  The swelling and pain will usually last 3-4 days.

How do I get it?

There are a number of factors that can contribute to gout. The more risk factors you have, the higher the chance you will get it.

  • Family history of gout
  • Age over 45 years (though gout can affect anyone of any age)
  • Men suffer more frequently than women though post-menopause sees an increase in incidence in women
  • Previous injury to a joint
  • Obesity
  • Some medications such as water pills (diuretics) and drugs used in transplant patients
  • Chronic health issues such as high blood pressure, heart and kidney disease and diabetes
  • A diet high in fructose 

Along with the above risk factors, every person who is affected by gout will also have one or more triggers that bring on a gouty attack. These triggers are different in everybody so it’s worth discovering which ones affect you so you can manage your attacks better. 

  • Alcohol – for some it only takes a small amount to bring on gout and for others it is excessive or binge drinking, especially beer
  • Starting gout specific medications 
  • Surgery or sudden illness that leads to inactivity
  • Radiation therapy
  • Dieting especially high-protein diets
  • Purine-rich foods such as red meat, shell fish, organ meat and drinks and food sweetened with corn syrup

(Information taken from www.gouteducation.org)

Treatment 

If you think you may be having a gouty attack, seek medical assistance as soon as possible – your pain can be managed much better the earlier you get treatment. Usually the initial treatment will be anti-inflammatories, both steroidal and non-steroidal, and advice on rest, ice packs and avoiding the triggers listed above. After your initial attack, you may go on medication to prevent another attack as well as a gout diet.

The more gouty attacks you have, the more severe they will become with increased crystal deposits in the joint and subsequent joint destruction. Therefore it is important to prevent gout as much as is possible.


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Victoria, 3034
Phone 03 9337 8737

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Victoria, 3031
Phone 03 9376 4666
 
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