Cures For Gout Symptoms - August 20, 2007
More Americans are living longer, living better but still looking for cures for gout symptoms as the incidence of gout is going up.
The typical patient is a man aged 40 to 70. Gout is relatively uncommon in women and rarely occurs before menopause.
Fortunately, physicians now have several drugs that can prevent gouty attacks and keep them under control when they occur. Gout is classified as a form of arthritis. Gout results from too-high blood levels of uric acid, which is a product of metabolism The uric acid is deposited in the joints, causing pain, swelling and redness that are the symptoms of gout.
Perhaps one case in 10 results from overproduction of uric acid. The great majority are due to inadequate disposal of uric acid by the kidneys. Gout often strikes in the big toe because it is the joint that is most prone to suffer trauma caused by normal walking. Gout develops because of the combination of high uric acid plus inflammatory white blood cells.
The classic case is one in which someone goes to sleep in comfort and awakes with excruciating pain in the big toe (although other joints can be struck as well).
An acute attack of gout might be treated with colchicine, or with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They usually bring relief in a day or two. Corticosteroid drugs or a hormone called ACTH may be prescribed in some unusual cases.
For longer-term treatment, daily doses of colchicine might be given for a tune to prevent new attacks.
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