Gout is an inflammatory type of arthritis that more commonly affects men.
Gout causes sudden and severe joint pain that usually starts in the big toe. But other joints and areas around the joints can be affected, such as the ankle, knee and foot. It’s the most common type of inflammatory arthritis. Men are three times more likely than women to develop gout. It tends to affect men after age 40 and women after menopause. Gout symptoms can be confused with another type of arthritis called calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD). However, the crystals that irritate the joint in this condition are calcium phosphate crystals, not uric acid.
A medical history, physical examination and blood tests are used to diagnose gout. The doctor needs to know:
The doctor will need to rule out other reasons for the joint pain and inflammation such as an infection, injury or other type of arthritis. The doctor may also take an X-ray, do an ultrasound or order a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) to examine soft tissue and bone. The doctor might also remove fluid from the painful joint and examine it under a microscope for uric acid crystals or bacteria indicating an infection.
Treating an Acute Gout Attack
Here are the steps for getting the pain and swelling of a gout attack under control as quickly as possible:
Medications for Acute Gout Attack
Here are the medications that your doctor may prescribe at the first sign of an attack:
Reducing Uric Acid Levels
The doctor will wait until the acute attack ends before starting medications to reduce your uric acid levels. Sometimes, these drugs can cause an attack at first because uric acid levels drop and crystals in the joints shift. But sticking with the treatment plan is the best way to prevent future attacks. The doctor may prescribe a low, but regular dose of colchicine along with one of the medications below to prevent attacks.
Medications for Reducing Uric Acid Levels
The doctor will wait until the acute attack ends before starting medications to reduce your uric acid levels. Sometimes, these drugs can cause an attack at first because uric acid levels drop and crystals in the joints shift. But sticking with the treatment plan is the best way to prevent future attacks. The doctor may prescribe a low, but regular dose of colchicine along with one of the medications below to prevent attacks.
All drugs come with risks. To learn more about these drugs and their side effects, visit the drug guide.
Diet
Drink lots of water and avoid alcohol, beer, high-purine foods and sugary drinks to help reduce uric acid buildup.
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is a key part of an effective gout treatment plan. Eat a healthy diet, avoid or limit high-purine foods, do regular exercise and lose excess weight to lower your risk of repeated gout attacks.
(Source: www.arthritis.org 5/21/2021)
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