By: Roy Klassen
Many women and men are of opinion that those suffering from Gout are faking it….. Being a gout sufferer personally has had its painful ups and downs. What I can tell you from my experience is that it is not a laughing matter, although, seeing a person hopping along on one leg and cringing with pain might appear comical to on-lookers, it is no joke. It is very real and it is so intense that a mere touch of a feather can cause excruciating pain that can send the toughest man crying like a baby…. Gout does not discriminate and it surely does not use discretion when choosing its victims…. It is as real as the air we breathe!
Namibia as a country of red meat-eaters, especially beef, has many Gout sufferers, just like there are sufferers in other parts of the world, so we should not feel isolated. In almost 20 that I have suffered with Gout, I have been offered many a cure by fellow sufferers and have realised that Gout has no cure but that it can only be kept at bay by committing oneself to a regimented and controlled diet. There are as many medication variations as there are remedies out there offering a solution to the problem but very few does the trick. I have been offered so much advice on what to eat and drink and what not to, that at one stage of my life I thought I should give up eating and drinking completely, but we all know that is not possible!
What is Gout? According to the National Arthritis Data Workgroup in America, most people have experienced Gout at some point in their lives. In fact Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis in men over forty. Gout attacks occur when excess uric acid forms crystals causing inflammation in one’s joints leading to swelling and pain. As one’s acid levels rises, so does the potential for Gout and Gout flares. Over time, Gout attacks can become more severe, last longer and occur more often. Decreasing one’s uric acid to the recommended level, less than six mg, can reduce the risk of Gout attacks over the long term, obviously you would have to see your GP to test your levels and consult a dietician for advice on what foods to eat or avoid. There is no way of being Gout free, which is why every time I have had an attack I got to test treatments and I have tried them all. I have helped many with their persistent cases from what I have found out. So I know well, from both personal and all my experiences that the prognosis isn’t always good, and fellow sufferers really need to be much better informed about their options when the going gets tough.
Gout: Signs and symptoms;
Gout flares usually strike, at night and without warning. During an attack the affected area becomes hot, red, swollen, and extremely painful. While most gout attacks occur in the big toe, it can also occur in other parts of the body as well. The most common affected areas are the big toe 76%, ankle or foot 50%, knee 32%, finger 25%, elbow 10%, more than one site 11% and wrist 10%. Over time, this may lead to attacks in other joints, constant pain, and joint destruction. So don’t wait, talk with your doctor about ways to keep your uric acid at a lower, healthy level.
Who gets gout?
- · Men, especially between the ages of 40 and 50 are more likely to develop Gout than women but it has also been seen developing in men in their twenties.
- · Most women experience Gout after menopause
- · There may be a genetic link if there is a family history of Gout.
- · Gout rarely affects children or young adults but this has not been ruled out
- · People with certain conditions are a higher risk for Gout. These conditions include diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and/or kidney problems.
What causes Gout?
It is caused by the build up and crystallisation of uric acid in the joints, often erupting into painful inflammation of the joints. Uric acid is a substance that results from the breakdown of purines. A normal part of all human tissue, purines are found in many foods. Normally, uric acid is dissolved in the blood and passed through the kidneys into the urine, where it is eliminated. Our body produces ⅔ of our natural purines and the other ⅓ comes from the foods we eat.
So, does changing your diets really have that big effect on your Gout? In my experience with it NO! It comes down to how your body breaks down the purines and flushes them from your system to eliminate excess uric acid.
If there is an increase in the production of uric acid, or if the kidneys do not eliminate enough uric acid from the body, levels of it build up in the blood, a condition called hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia may also result when a person eats too many high-purine foods, but remember only ⅓ of the purines in our body come from our food. If you are suffering from Gout, sure it is common sense to try and not eat high purine foods. Bottom line, be aware of how your body is going to react to certain foods high in purine. Hyperuricemia is not a disease, and by itself it is not dangerous. However, if excess uric acid crystals form as a result of hyperuricemia, Gout can develop. The crystals form and accumulate in the joint, causing inflammation. Remember it is all how your body gets rid of your excess levels of uric acid to keep your Gout at manageable levels.
How to control and avoid Gout out-breaks,
If you’re overweight, losing weight is key to lowering your risk for Gout. Extra body tissue means extra uric-acid production from normal processes of breakdown and turnover. You can start losing weight by following a regular exercise programme (gentle, low-impact exercise is best for arthritis sufferers) and eating a calorie-controlled diet rich in plant foods (especially vegetables) and reduced-fat dairy products with moderate portions of lean protein. Avoid Purine-Rich Meats and Seafood.
Studies have shown that eating lots of high-purine meats and seafood increases the risk of Gout by raising uric acid levels in your blood. You should also avoid or dramatically limit your intake of proteins that are highest in purines: organ meats (such as kidney and liver); fatty cuts of beef, lamb, and pork; and certain fish and shellfish fish (anchovies, herring, sardines, and mackerel).
Choose Reduced-Fat Dairy Products, people who eat two or three servings daily of reduced-fat dairy foods — especially milk and yogurt — can cut their risk of Gout by about half, compared with those who eat few dairy foods. Add reduced-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt to your diet; both are also sources of vitamin D, which is critical for joint health and leads to greater muscular strength.
Reduce Alcohol Intake — Especially Beer, alcoholic beverages interfere with the body’s ability to clear uric acid, increasing your risk of Gout. Spirits also caused an increase in Gout but to a lesser degree. Wine did not seem to increase risk of Gout, but I still recommend limiting your consumption, so the myth of red wine causing gout can be put to rest but not entirely eliminated.
Avoid Sugary Beverages, Fructose, a type of sugar found in soft drinks and other sweetened beverages, as well as candy, cookies, and other baked goods, appears to increase Gout risk by raising uric acids levels in the blood. A 2008 study found that men with the highest intake of fructose were twice as likely to develop Gout as men with the lowest fructose intake. That’s reason enough to cut out all sugary beverages, including soda, fruit drinks, sweetened waters, sugary coffee drinks, sweet tea — and even 100 percent fruit juice.
Use aspirin only sparingly, salicylates — the active ingredients in aspirin — can raise uric-acid levels, so those at risk for Gout are generally told to avoid (or at least limit) consuming aspirin or aspirin-containing products. Talk to your doctor to find out what pain relievers are safe for you.
Drink plenty of water, I recommend that if you suffer from Gout drink at least eight glasses of water daily to help flush uric acid out of the body.
And,finally, get a check-up in addition to finding food cures for Gout, visit your doctor for a regular check-up of your overall health. About 75 percent of people diagnosed with Gout also have metabolic syndrome, a serious condition that increases the risk of heart disease. If you receive a diagnosis of Gout, insist on testing for metabolic syndrome. You can follow more advice on food cures on the website Joybauer.com. (Sources: Joybauer.com, Jame Gillray, The image conveys a feeling of intense pain brought on by gout;What health.com)