Prevent Gout Attacks
Gout is characterized by sudden attacks of painful sensation, usually around the joint of your big toe. Other signs and symptoms could include a hot, sensitive joint that you can’t stand to have touched. Swelling and visibly red skin are also common in the vicinity of the injured joint.
Hyperuricemia, a condition where there is an excess of uric acid inside the body, is what causes gout. Although there is no cure for gout, it can be effectively treated and managed using medicine and self-management techniques.
How to prevent a gout pain episode?
Your chance of a gout episode and the potential joint problems it can cause can be decreased by implementing a few dietary and lifestyle modifications. A doctor can provide you with advice based on your particular health situation.
Diet
Greens, fruits, dairy products, and complex carbs like whole grains and beans are all part of a gout-prevention diet.
Try to avoid the following foods:
- Meat, especially deer meat and liver
- Fish and shellfish
- Alcohol, primarily beer but also wine and spirits
These foods and beverages have a high concentration of a compound called purines, which raises the risk of a gout episode. Sugary foods and beverages, such as soda, raise purine levels and the risk of gout. However, getting enough water may help reduce these episodes. An ample amount of water should be consumed every day. Keeping hydrated aids the body in the removal of excess uric acid.
The amount of uric acid present in the body does not appear to rise with coffee or tea, and coffee might also decrease it. However, podiatrists typically advise patients to refrain from drinking too much coffee or tea.
Exercise
A potential risk for gout is excess weight, which is something that most specialists advise losing. Maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in regular exercise will lower your risk of developing gout attacks.
Treat your sleep apnea
People with sleep apnea face a higher risk of developing gout. Sleep apnea results in the body getting less oxygen while it is sleeping, which increases purines. Try using sleep apnea aids to reduce the impact on your health and get the required oxygen in your body as you sleep.
Medication
A doctor would typically advise taking a prescription drug shown to be successful in preventing gout attacks, in addition to the steps outlined above.
For gout, you should see a podiatrist. Oral anti-inflammatory drugs, which will control a gout episode and the pain, can be prescribed to relieve your discomfort.
The foot experts at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists in the Tucson, Oro Valley, and Green Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, have unparalleled experience treating all aspects of foot and ankle care. If you have any questions or want to make an appointment, please call (520) 575-0800.
