Did you know gout, a common form of arthritis, was referred to as the "disease of kings" or the "rich man's disease" during the Victorian era? It was associated with a rich lifestyle and was thought to be more prevalent among people who could afford a diet rich in meats, seafood, and alcohol, all of which today are known to contribute to the development of the disease. Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, UK reports suggest gout cases have surged in the country, with around 2.5 lakh people needing treatment for the condition between 2021 and 2022.
We spoke to Dr Jigar Haria, Professor of General Medicine, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Uttar Pradesh (UP), to get an in-depth understanding of the condition and assess who is more at risk.
What Causes Gout?
“Gout is characterised by a sudden, severe attack of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in one or more joints, most often in the big toe,” says Dr Haria, adding, “It occurs when urate crystals accumulate in the joint.” Urate crystals usually form when high levels of uric acid are present in the blood.
Also Read: High Uric Acid Levels Can Be Dangerous: Ways To Manage It
According to the doctor, uric acid normally dissolves in the blood and passes through the kidneys into urine. But sometimes, either the body produces too much uric acid or the kidneys excrete too little uric acid. When this happens, uric acid can build up, forming sharp, needle-like urate crystals in a joint or surrounding tissue that cause pain, inflammation, and swelling.
Common Symptom Of Gout
Here are some common symptoms of gout to note:
- Sudden and intense joint pain, often in the big toe
- Swelling and redness in the affected joint
- Warmth and tenderness in the joint
- Limited range of motion in the affected joint
- Sudden and frequently-occurring pain at night
- Pain that lasts a few days to a week or more
- Recurrent gout attacks
- Fever and chills
- Joint damage in severe cases
Who Is Most At Risk?
As per Dr Haria, gout is more prevalent among men between the ages of 30-50 years and postmenopausal women.
A study, published in the Journal of Translational Internal Medicine, involved a total of 78,130 people, 38,013 males and 40,117 females, and found hyperuricemia, which indicates elevated uric acid level in the blood, was significantly higher in males than in females.
Other people at risk include:
- People who consume high amounts of animal meats and seafood
- Those who have a high alcohol intake
- People with chronic diseases like untreated high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and heart and kidney diseases
- Individuals who take low-dose aspirin and other medications used to control hypertension, including thiazide diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and beta blockers
- Persons with a family history of gout
- Those with recent surgery or trauma or previously damaged joints
Preventive Measures
Dr Haria notes that high purine-containing foods like red meat and organ meats, such as liver, and seafood like anchovies, sardines, mussels, scallops, trout, and tuna cause higher uric acid levels in the body.
“Alcoholic beverages, especially beer, drinks sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose), and processed foods with corn syrup promote higher levels of uric acid,” he adds.
Therefore, according to him, the best way to prevent gout is to limit the consumption of high-purine foods and drinks, making sure that one drinks plenty of water to help the kidneys function better and avoid dehydration.
Bottomline
Gout is a distressing condition, which can be more prevalent in males than females. It is important to understand that diet plays a significant role in triggering gout attacks. One must avoid foods rich in purine to prevent the onset of gout. Furthermore, address any symptoms of gout or joint pain and seek treatment according to your diagnosis.