Interesting Gout facts

Typically, gout patients are about 95% men, 5% women. An initial attack of gout (50% of initial attacks involve the big toe) may last several days and disappear even if untreated. Subsequent attacks may not occur for weeks, months, years, or not at all. In severe cases, repeated attacks occurring over a long period may cause damage to the joints and loss of mobility. The big toe is eventually affected in 90% of cases. Knowing how to treat gout is important for preventing attacks.

Gout is often related to an inherited abnormality in the body to process uric acid. Uric acid levels can become elevated by eating alot of purine-rich foods such as meats, by the overproduction of uric acid by the body, or if the kidneys do not eliminate excess uric acid.

Treatment goals include terminating acute gout attacks, rapid and safe relief of pain and inflammation, preventing future attacks, and avoiding complications (formation of tophi, kidney stones, and joint destruction).

Though gout treatment is most often treated successfully and without complications, it becomes more of a challenge if other conditions exist along with gout or if there is poor patient compliance to recommended lifestyle changes or a medication regimen.