About Gout: From The Inside Out (NAPSA)—Gout affects more than five million Americans. It is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis in men over age 40 and commonly occurs in women after menopause. Gout occurs whenuric acid present in the body forms crystals in the joints or soft tissue. These crystals, which are needle-like in shape, can cause an attack or inflammatory response leading to swelling, redness, heat, pain and tendernessin the affected joints. “As a doctor, I know how painful and debilitating gout can be for patients; and if the condition is not managed, gout can result in joint damage over time,” said Dr. Zorba Paster, a primary care physician in Madison, Wis. Gout attacks most often occur in the big toe but also can occur in the ankles, insteps, heels, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows. Attacks usually happen at night, suddenly waking a person from sleep. Gout attacks can last for three to 14 days. The primary risk factor for gout is hyperuricemia, a condition characterized by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is a by-product created when the body metabolizes, or breaks down, naturally occurring substances called purines. Purines are not only a part of all human tissue, but they are What You Should Discuss With Your Doctor: At a recent gout summit designed to address diagnosis and treatment approaches, rheumatologists and primary care physicians identified important facts about gout that your gout attack is gone. Joint damage can occur in some goutpatients, even when they are not experiencing an attack. Consider risk factors and keep track ofpast attacks. It is importantto recognize goutas a chronic, metabolic disease. After your first attack, you shoulddiscuss your condition and treatment options with your doctor; after the second attack, your doctor may consider starting chronic treatment. Discuss follow-up appointments andchronic management with your doctor. It is important for physicians to monitor their patients’ uric acid levels in order to properly managetheir condition. The standard goal in the treatment of chronic goutis to lower and maintain uric acid levels to less than 6 mg/dL. For moreinformation on gout,visit tion, and alcohol abuse. Several potential triggers for a gout attack include stress, trauma, excessive patients should be aware of and expectto discuss with their physician, including: Talk with your doctor even if the pain from www.gout.com. ing too little of it, or a combination of the two. Gout is often associated with other health problems, such as obesity, kidney (renal) dysfunc- @ alcohol, infection, or surgery. “Many people seek treatment during an acute attack without understanding that gout is a chronic condition that needs to be managed long-term with ongoing treatment,” said Paster. Gout treatment involves therapies that either manage hyper- uricemia or treat an acute gout attack. In treating chronic gout and its underlying hyperuricemia, therapy is aimed at reducing uric acid levels by eliminating uric acid through increased excretion by the kidneys or by decreasing production of uric acid. Treatment for acute gout attacks focuses only on the relief of symptoms. Along with taking medication to control hyperuricemia, patients are often encouraged to make lifestyle changes such as losing weight, reducing consumption of purine-containing foods, and lim- contained in many foods and bev- iting alcohol consumption. How- liver, and shellfish. The excess accumulation of uric acid in the body may result from either producing too much uric acid, excret- cally not enough and additional treatmentis required. erages, such as bacon, beer, beans, ever, dietary restrictions are typi- For more information on gout, visit www.gout.com.
