Violation of the exchange of uric acid and the deposition of its salts in the joints can lead to the development of a condition such as gout. What is this disease? This is a common type of arthritis characterized by joint damage and developing due to metabolic disorders.
Gout Disease: Symptoms
The disease manifests itself in acute pain, swelling and redness of the joints. A gout attack can last from a few days to several weeks. As a rule, it begins at night, the joint becomes very sensitive and hot to the touch. Often there is an increased body temperature. The disease mainly develops on the joints of the toes, but fingers, hands, knees, ankles can also be affected.
Forms of the disease
Primary gout
What is this disease? This is a condition in which the disorders are not associated with any disease, and the disease develops on its own.
Secondary gout
This condition can trigger other diseases: heart disease, psoriasis, hemoglobinopathy, myelogenous leukemia and other diseases of the blood and internal organs.
Gout - what is this disease and what are its causes?
The appearance of the disease is caused by a delay in the body's uric acid, which is formed as a result of processing products containing purines. Under normal conditions, uric acid should be excreted in the urine. But in a person suffering from gout, this substance accumulates and is deposited in the form of crystals. This provokes joint disease.
Gout can develop for other reasons, such as:
- alcohol intake
- physical activity;
- injury;
- infectious diseases;
- bleeding;
- taking medications;
- radiation therapy.
How to relieve an attack of gout?
- Provide complete peace. During exacerbation, the diseased joint should be in an elevated position. This will ease the pain.
- Observe drinking regimen. At least 5-6 glasses of water should be drunk per day. A sufficient amount of fluid in the body promotes the withdrawal of uric acid.
- Avoid drugs that include aspirin, as this substance slows down acid excretion.
- Eliminate high-protein purine-rich foods from your diet, because such foods increase your uric acid levels.
- Excessive content of such a substance leads to damage to the joints, kidneys, blood vessels. Therefore, it must be removed from the body with the help of special drugs prescribed by a rheumatologist.
Prevention
If there is a hereditary predisposition to this disease, then it is necessary to regularly monitor the amount of uric acid in the blood. In addition, it is recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle. The disease often develops in overweight people. A healthy diet with limited intake of products containing purines is an integral part of disease prevention.
If you are concerned about gout, what kind of disease it is, and what treatment is needed, an experienced specialist will tell you. Following all the recommendations of a doctor, you will very soon notice that the disease recedes.