What Causes Gout?

Did you know that there are over 100 different types of arthritis? One of these is gout, an ancient disease that has been mentioned in written records for thousands of years. Gout persists-even today there are an estimated half million people in the United States alone who suffer from this often painful condition. It is estimated that gout accounts for roughly five per cent of arthritis cases in the United States. Gout is described as an inflammatory form of arthritis. It can cause feelings of sharp sudden pain in some joints, accompanied by redness, warmth, swelling, and tenderness. When most people think of gout, they think of how the big toe becomes swollen.

It is common for the big toe to become affected, but there are other areas of the body that are also commonly affected. These may include the wrists, knees, heels, ankles, fingers, and elbows. The instep may also be affected. Who is more likely to develop gout? In the United States, men account for the majority of gout cases. It is estimated that less than one in ten women develop gout. Most gout patients are men, ranging in age from 30 to 60 years.

What causes gout? Gout is thought to be caused by an over production of uric acid in the body. Most researchers agree that genetics play a role in the development of gout. Many people are prone to developing too much uric acid, while others appear to inherit the tendency to under process uric acid in the body, causing it to be lost in urine. Other people inherit high blood levels of uric acid. This high level of uric acid appears to cause sodium monourate crystals to collect in the synovial joint fluid.

This in turn causes painful stiff joints, resulting in gout. If someone in your family once suffered from gout, you are at a greater risk for developing the condition. Another possible cause of gout is that it may develop as a result of other conditions. While genetics play a strong role, lifestyle choices are also a big piece of the puzzle. Dietary choices have been linked to the onset of gout. Trigger foods include seafood (especially anchovies), meat proteins, beans, gravies, and sweet breads. What do all these foods have in common? They are all rich in purines, and eating too much of them has been shown to cause gout. Other things that may affect the onset of gout include crash diets. Eating recklessly, which may include eating too much or too little, may be a major contributing factor to gout.

Besides your dietary habits, gout may also be triggered by various other symptoms. These include excessive stress, excessive exercise, severe illness, joint or muscle injury, high blood pressure, and chemotherapy. All have been linked to the development of gout. One of the common denominators that medical researchers have detected is that patient's immune systems and overall health are compromised before the onset of gout. If gout run in your family, eating a varied and well balanced diet is important to keep this painful disease at bay.