To date, gout is considered a fairly common problem. This disease is the result of a disturbance in the normal metabolism and leads to the deposition of uric acid salts in the joints. Statistics confirm that gout in men is much more often diagnosed, while women suffer from such an ailment about 20 times less often. So what are the causes and symptoms of the disease?
Gout in men and its causes
As mentioned above, the disease is associated with a violation of uric acid metabolism , as a result of which its compounds, in particular sodium urate, accumulate in the joint bag, leading to joint inflammation and acute pain attacks.
In some cases, the cause of the disease is an increased formation of uric acid. But sometimes the level of this metabolic product in the blood of a person meets the standards - this means that the disease is the result of certain kidney diseases, as a result of which the excretory system does not cope with its basic functions.
Signs of gout in men
It is immediately worth noting that this disease most often affects the big toes, and sometimes the hands. Nevertheless, inflammation of the elbow and knee joints may be observed. Less commonly, urate crystals accumulate in the ankle joints.
Gout is a chronic disease in which periods of relative calm unexpectedly give way to severe exacerbations. It is worth noting that the deterioration of the patient's condition often occurs against the background of malnutrition or strong physical overstrain.
Inflammation of the joint is accompanied by severe pain, which prevents movement. Along with this, redness and swelling of the skin are observed - these are also symptoms of gout in men. At the initial stages of the development of the disease, the attack lasts several days, after which it passes by itself. And after several months there is a repeated exacerbation.
Gradually, periods of relative calm practically disappear - patients are constantly tormented by joint pain. The accumulation of a patient's amount of uric acid salts leads to the gradual destruction of articular cartilage. In addition, urate crystals can be deposited under the skin, forming noticeable nodules of white or yellowish color.
In more severe cases, salts begin to be deposited in the tissues of the kidneys, which leads to the development of pyelonephritis, or urolithiasis.
Gout in men: treatment methods
Therapy depends on the severity of the disease. During periods of exacerbation, the doctor's task is to relieve the main symptoms. For this purpose, anti-inflammatory ointments and painkillers are used. Many patients are prescribed medications that accelerate the metabolism and excretion of uric acid.
But the disappearance of the main symptoms does not mean that the disease has receded. And the only way to avoid another exacerbation is to carefully monitor the level of uric acid. It is gout in men that is treated mainly with the help of a proper diet. In particular, it is recommended to exclude meat, fatty fish, caviar, liver, lungs and kidneys from the menu. You should also limit the amount of certain vegetables, including sorrel, asparagus, spinach, cauliflower, radishes, eggplant, mushrooms and legumes. People with a similar diagnosis are also contraindicated in alcoholic beverages. Most often, proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle help to get rid of the main signs of gout for a long time.