A sudden and severe pain accompanied by swelling and redness in one or more joints is often a sign of gout, which is an inflammatory form of arthritis. According to Dr Jigar Haria, Professor of General Medicine, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Uttar Pradesh (UP), it occurs due to the accumulation of urate crystals in the joint, which are formed when you have high levels of uric acid in the blood.
Scientific evidence suggests the risk of a gout attack can be influenced by temperature changes, mostly during heat and humidity. Here’s what Dr Haria has to say about the same.
Also Read: Ayurvedic Expert Tells Treatments For Gout And Uric Acid
Why Is Gout Called The Rich Man’s Disease?
The reason why gout is called a "rich man's disease" or "disease of kings" is because during the Victorian era, it was mainly associated with a rich lifestyle. The condition was more prevalent among the population that could afford foods like meat, seafoods and drinks, such as wine. These today are known to contribute to high uric acid levels in the blood, hence, causing the development of gout.
Is A Gout Attack More Likely During Winters?
Besides age, diet, and pre-existing health conditions like untreated high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and heart and kidney diseases, the weather can also have an effect on gout, says Dr Haria.
He explains, “Cold temperatures tend to increase joint problems of any cause. Gout attacks may increase as cold helps uric acid to crystallise faster. On the other hand, warm temperatures can cause dehydration which can in turn precipitate gout attacks.”
A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that higher temperatures were associated with approximately 40% increased risk of gout attack compared with moderate temperatures.
On the other hand, lower temperatures were said to "decrease the solubility of urate crystals", giving rise to gout symptoms, especially in the distal joints, which are the joints that connect the bones at the tips of the fingers.
The study further highlights how higher temperatures can cause sweating, potentially leading to dehydration and metabolic acidosis, which can increase serum urate levels or hyperuricemia, contributing to gout development.
Also Read: Expert Take: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment for High Uric Acid or Hyperuricemia
Warning Signs To Note
Here are some of the common symptoms of gout:
- Intense joint pain, often in the big toe
- Swelling and redness in the affected joint
- Warmth and tenderness
- Limited range of motion in the affected joint
- Sudden and persistent pain at night
- Pain that lasts a few days to a week or more
- Fever and chills
- Joint damage
Prevention
To prevent the development of gout, one must limit the consumption of high purine-containing foods. These include:
- Red meat
- Organ meats, such as liver
- Seafood like anchovies, sardines, mussels, scallops, trout, and tuna
In addition, Dr Haria warns against drinking alcoholic beverages, especially beer, drinks sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose), and eating processed foods with corn syrup.