Gout Causes and Treatments

Gout is a disease caused by a surplus of uric acid in the blood and body. Due to this surplus, the uric acid forms crystals of urate in the blood that deposit in tissues, especially joints. This can cause arthritis, joint inflammation and severe pain.

In cases of chronic condition, these deposits can form lumps that can destroy the joints. This build up can also cause decreased kidney function and kidney stones. This condition is caused by the production of uric acid to break down purines, which can be found naturally in the body as well as in foods like mushrooms, asparagus, organ meats and certain fish like herring and anchovies.

Uric acid usually enters the blood, dissolves and is passed through the kidneys and excreted through urine. It occurs when the body produces too much or the kidneys excrete too little uric acid. This causes the surplus, crystallized urate and ensuing pain and inflammation.

This disease comes with certain risk factors. Men are more likely to suffer from gout due to the lower levels of uric acid in women. Although, after menopause women maintain higher levels and become equally susceptible. Family history also plays a role, as if other family members have developed gout; you are more likely to develop the disease.

Excessive alcohol use, obesity and excessive weight gain, thiazide diuretics, and low-dose aspirin can increase uric acid levels in the body and cause gout as well.

Certain medical conditions like hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, hyperlipidemia (high levels of blood fat and cholesterol), and arteriosclerosis (narrowing of arteries) can all increase the risk of developing gout.       

People with gout are sometimes put on a special diet to limit some foods believed to bring on attacks of the disease. Which foods should and should not be on the list is still a matter of debate, but alcohol, red meats and some green, leafy vegetables are thought to be contributors to the attacks. There are treatments for it, but exact gout causes are still a mystery.