Best Gout prevention Supplements

Tom’s wife Laura returned from a family get together with a painful toe and they couldn’t figure out the cause. She hadn’t any health problems, so it was so inexplicable,” says Tom. Her first attack lasted about a week, the toe was very tender, couldn’t be touched and she couldn’t move it.

Gout prevention Supplements

 For another 3 weeks later, the attacks could become more frequent or get worse. She was immediately diagnosed with high uric levels in the blood – hyperuricemia – and that immediately led to an inquiry of the family history of gout.

Laura said Gout caused “unbearable” pain during a flare. It was a cripplingly-painful malady that prevented her from walking for up to weeks.

Like Laura, most people found it difficult to stand or walk when they had attacks in their feet, ankles or knees because of the severe pain and swelling.

The main symptom of gout in the ankle is unbearable pain and discomfort in the surrounding area.

The Worry Never Ends but can be managed if you maintain a good lifestyle, proper diet, foods to avoid and take supplements.

A new study shows the prevalence of gout in the United States has risen over the last twenty years and now affects 8.3 million Americans or 4% of the population. And the risk of getting gout increases with age. 51% described their gout as very severe or severe. -source webmd.com

What is Gout

 Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis, develops in some people, mostly after the age of 35 who have high levels of uric acid in the blood. Gout attacks can be sudden and pain like needle pushing. The uric acid form needle-like crystals in a joint and cause severe occurrences of painful state. Gout attacks on tender points especially on the toe.

Gout Prevention Supplements
Gout Image Source
Gout Prevention Supplements

The attack can redness are not severe for the first time – focus on pain, warmth, and swelling), warmth and swelling in the joints or In Big Toe.

Symptoms of Gout

Symptoms of gout are often sudden and of course, painful. The excruciating pain shoots through your ankles, knees, elbows, knuckles, etc. without any alert.

Your hips or shoulder would be rarely affected by gout.

Life can become difficult maintaining with such pinning and stabbing joint pains.

What are the signs and symptoms you should look for in gout condition?

Symptoms are as below:

1.   Extreme Joint Pain

You may wake up suddenly at the dead of the night with extreme pain in your elbows, knuckles, knees, or toes. The achiness may worse as the night goes deeper and deeper.

2.   Reddish and Hot Joints

The commonest visible symptom is that your achy joints will become red-hot with pain.

You may feel occasional hot flash inside the joints. It’s simply because of the tiny uric acid crystals depositing in the joint areas of your body.

3.   Swelling

As tiny uric acid crystals accumulate in the joint areas, joints will swell with reddish skin tone since the crystals obstruct the blood flow in those areas.

4.   Sensitiveness

Your achy joint areas will become red flags to every tiniest touch and press. The sensitivity will penetrate your joints so much that you won’t be able to put even a blanket on your toes or knees.

5.   Long Term Soreness

You may constantly feel soreness or pain in your joints most of the time throughout the day. It may last for weeks, months, or even a year.

Sadly, later attacks of gout may remain longer than the last penetration.

6.   Inability or Disfigurement in The Long Run

Your incapacity to move your limbs or do regular tasks may last longer. One may end up with one or a few joints disfigured due to gout.

[Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK284934/ ].

What Mainly Causes Gout?

The main reason behind gout is the accumulation of uric acid in the bloodstream.

Uric acid is a natural waste in our body that is disposed of as purines. Kidneys are responsible for disposing most of the uric acid into the urine. But if in some people, their kidneys fail to do so, uric acid starts building up in the joints.

Uric acid deposits start to overflow if one takes foods containing purine. Steak, organic meat, seafood, alcohol, etc. are sources of purine. One should avoid these foods while diagnosed with excessive uric acid in the body.

Excessive uric acid amasses needle-like crystals in the joints which is the main cause of triggering gout.

One may ask why uric acid excesses?

There are reasons like food habits and lifestyle. Also, if fluid in the joints like knees, ankles, or toes wane, the risk of gout increases.

In rare cases, hereditary or genetic reasons may be there in people for having too much uric acid naturally in the body. [Source].

Risk Factors That Contribute to Gout

Those who already had been a victim of a gout attack are in more risk for further gout invasion.

Though excessive uric acid level is the primary risk of having gout, there are other scientific reasons that may act as risk factors for gout.

1.   Uncontrolled Diet

Foods that contain purines are harmful and risky for gout.

Seafood, meat, steak, and some vegetables contain purine which may increase the risk of gout if taken in large quantities.

2.   Inconsiderate Lifestyle

Lack of exercise or physical activity may increase the level of uric acid in the joints.

Those who do regular exercises and play various sports along with checked diet are under less risk of gout than who don’t.

People, who are addicted to alcohol consumption or those who drink alcohol regularly, have a higher risk of developing excessive uric acid. Many of the liquor drinkers experience gout triggers during sleep at night.

3.   Medicines

If you have a habit of taking aspirin more often, you are under a risk of developing uric acid in your system. Aspirin contains drugs like diuretics and acetylsalicylic acid that may increase uric acid levels.

Medicines that are taken after an organ transplant surgery are risky for gout.

Drugs taken for Parkinson and cancer treatment may cause your uric acid level to higher up than normal level and increase the risk for gout.

[Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK284934/ ].

4.   Age & Gender

Men tend to be under gout risk at about five times higher chances than women. Men naturally produce more uric acid than women.

Men experience gout usually after forty while women face this risk at their menopause. Hormonal influence seems to be acting on their menopausal period to risk them to gout.

5.   Exposure to Leads

If someone has been exposed to lead for a long time, it may pose a risk for accumulating uric acid levels in the body. Complications or signs may not prevail before middle or old age [Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10914856, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19244863]

6.   Weight Leading to Obesity

You may develop the risk of gout as you put on weight. Extra body fat increases the uric acid level in the body.

Fat cell produces pro-inflammatory cytokines which pushes up the risk of systematic inflammation.

7.   Chronic Disease

Study shows that chronic disease is associated with the risk of gout. According to number of studies related with chronic diseases in patients, risk of developing gout was found [Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4104583/]

Heart disease, hypertension, renal disease, diabetes, undergoing surgery, menopause, etc. can be associated with the risk of gout.

8.   Recent Surgery or Trauma

Medications, lifestyle, inactivity, or diet after a recent surgery may hamper the dialysis or waste processing system of a patient. This may reduce the level of uric acid disposal by the kidneys; hence, risking the patient to gout.

Traumatic incidents are sometimes associated with the gout risk too [Source: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2014/1215/p831.html].

9.   Hereditary Acidic Excess

Hypouricaemia or excessive uric acid condition may be transferred into a person genetically [Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3645862/#S2title, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4251556/ ].

10.  Ethnicity & Race

Lifestyle and cultural habit across nations can be indicating risk factors for gout.

According to studies, African American males have the two-fold risk than the Caucasian males to develop gout. Maori population in New Zealand holds more risk of gout condition than Europeans.

Further data can be found in this research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4251556/

11.  Fructose Intake in High Amount

Soft drinks or beverages like fruit juices, cola, etc. are high in fructose. Studies show lean chance of fructose to be risky for those under gout condition.

Excessive amount of fructose or sugary drink consumption is not advisable to avoid the risk of gout condition [Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK284934/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4251556/].

Complications Associated with Gout

The painful journey of gout doesn’t end so easily if that becomes chronic. Untreated gout may come up with other conditions that would leave you with more pain and frustration. Deformity or inability to move and work may be the result of unattended gout conditions.

Some potential complications that may arise are as follows:

1.   Kidney Stones

Your kidneys may be at risk of having stones if urate crystals bulk at the urinary tract. Kidney stones should be treated with prescribed medicines.

2.   Tophi

The chalky white crystals bulked under the skin are tophi. These may not be achy but they may damage your cartilage, joints, and bones.

3.   Kidney Failure

Untreated kidney stones may lead to kidney damage or kidney failure.

4.   Joint Deformity

Chronic gout can incapacitate or damage your joints for a long term. One may even require fix-surgery or joint-replacement in order to move or work again.

5.   Recurrent Gout

Neglected gout may come around with severer effects to a person who has experienced gout recently. One may encounter gout attack several times in a year.

6.   Emotional Complications

When constant pain takes over, your ability to work, go out, socialize, etc. becomes near to impossible. Keeping yourself away from all these activities and bearing the pain alone could be mentally stressful.

Regular consulting with a doctor may help in reducing depression and fight through the daily life hassles caused by gout.

Preventive Measures for Gout

Proper lifestyle and preventive measures may keep gout at bay in the first place or save you from further attack.

1.   Sufficient Fluid Intake

Fluidity in the body helps keeping uric acid level at tolerant level. Besides drinking at least 3-4 liters of water every day, you better limit your high fructose beverage intake.

2.   Low Fat Protein

It’s safe to take low fat protein as it poses a lesser risk of building uric acid in the body. Overeating of fat or eating high-fat protein elevates the chance of building up a uric acid levels in the body.  

3.   Limit or Quit Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol, especially beer, has the potential to increase gout risk in men. You must follow your doctor’s advice regarding alcohol consumption. Limiting alcoholism will keep you away from purine intake.

4.   Stay in Shape

As opposed to extra weight gaining, keeping a toned muscle and body structure will help your system enjoying a smooth blood flow, digestive activities, and urinary tract function. This overall body function will help to keep the uric acid level low.

5.   Control Meat, Fish, and Poultry Intake

Since organic meat, steak, seafood, or poultry are the potential career of purines, you better keep those in your diet carefully.

As preventive measure or willing to prevent any further gout complication, you may ask your health expert about your diet. Plan on the meat, fish, and poultry to know exactly how much you can eat from them to keep gout at bay.

How Long Does It Take for Gout to Heal

Once affected by gout, it’s vital to know the duration of gout complications. It’s rare that gout may wear off on its own without treatment or proper initiative. So, healing gout depends on the kind of treatment you would apply.

It may take about a week for the swell to go down without medication.

There are two basic types of treatment for gout:

  1. Non-pharmacological
  2. Pharmacological

[Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5624445/].

In non-pharmacological treatment, patients are educated on gout condition and their prevention. This includes the diet habit also so people can save themselves from potential gout attack. People who maintain a proper diet and lifestyle can reduce uric acid level by 18%, according to studies [Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3683400/].

Resting your joints with cooling treatment may also push your gout away sooner [Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24186771/].

In pharmacological treatment, the aim is the remove gout pain from the body. The treatment should be commenced within 12 to 24 hours of the gout attack since without pharmacological treatment gout may last up to 2 weeks.

Pharmacological treatment starts with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids, and colchicine [Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27481119/]. Applying these, the gout flare is expected to go away within 24 hours [Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25225849/].

Diagnosis of Gout

American College of Rheumatology has the standard criteria to diagnose gout clinically. It can be diagnosed based on the identification of monosodium urate crystals in synovial fluid [Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25591183].

Annual lab test is recommended for patients with acute gout condition for having check on the possible chronic gout development [Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5624445/].

Before moving on to the medical tests, doctor may ask about the following facts:

  • If the patient is taking any medication for gout
  • How often the gout symptoms prevail in a day
  • Regular diet habit
  • Other existing pains or previous injuries.

Some popular medical tests for diagnosis of gout are:

1.   Joint Fluid Test

To check if you have bulked up urate crystals in your joint, the doctor shall inject and draw out fluids from your affected joint. Under microscope, the crystals will be visible if they really exist in your joints.

2.   Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Test

Ultrasound test for musculoskeletal parts of your body shall be conducted to check if you have gout.

Europeans tend to use this test more than Americans for diagnosis of gout.

3.   Blood Test

It’s important to check the uric acid level in your blood stream. For doing that, doctor may suggest you to do a blood test. It’s also recommended to check the creatinine level in your blood to verify if you have gout.

4.   X-Ray

You might have developed some other disease for which you may be experiencing inflammation in the joints. To be sure, an X-Ray is a must to check the joints’ condition.

5.   CT Scan

Duel energy CT Scan is effective in scanning joint condition even if it is not affected by inflammation due to uric crystals.

Though effective, people are less willing to do this test due to its high cost.

Fastest Ways to Attend and Cure Gout

Do the following primary treatments if there is a gout attack:

  • Cool down the joints with ice bag. Press them gently over the affected joints to sooth the hot flash and inflammation.
  • Drink a lot of water to keep your urination active. Thus the excessive uric acid shall dispose of regularly.
  • Take anti-inflammatory medications if you had any prescribed by your doctor earlier. Note: Aspirin may worsen the gout attack condition.
  • Call your doctor or make an appointment to pay a visit to consult about your pain.

Best Gout prevention Supplements – Best Painkillers for Treating Gout

1.   Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs can relieve the gout pain if taken within 24 hours of the gout attack.

2.   Corticosteroid

Corticosteroid can be administered orally or injected into the joints to relieve the gout pain.

3.   Cochicine

Cochicine is a medicine derived from herbal plant that has been in use to treat gout swell and inflammation for thousands of years.

It is effective in treating gout if taken in the first place during a gout attack. There are side effects of cochicine like diarrhea or nausea.

Natural and Home Remedies for Gout

Common home remedies for treating gout are:

  • Intake of sufficient water to keep your body hydrated
  • Rest your joints
  • Maintain an active life: playing sports, workout, travel, spending quality time with family and friends.
  • Avoid stress and depression
  • Watch your diet if it contains purines. Avoid alcohol and high fat protein.

Treatment

Medications to treat gout attacks

Drugs used to treat acute attacks and prevent future attacks include:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs include

  • ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and
  • naproxen sodium (Aleve),
  • other-powerful prescription NSAIDs such as indomethacin (Indocin) or celecoxib (Celebrex).

Your doctor may prescribe a higher dose to stop an acute attack, followed by a lower daily dose to prevent future attacks.

downside :

But there is also downside to use the NSAIDs. Because NSAIDs carry risks of stomach pain, bleeding and ulcers.

  • Colchicine. Sometimes doctor may recommend colchicine (Colcrys, Mitigare), a type of pain reliever that effectively reduces gout pain. Doctor may prescribe a low daily dose of colchicine to prevent future acute gout attacks.

The drug’s effectiveness is great but it has also downside.

The downside: The side effects occur such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea if overtaken without doctor permission.

  • Corticosteroids. Corticosteroid medications, such as the drug prednisone, may control gout inflammation and pain. Corticosteroids  found in 2 form.

1.pill form and 2. injected into your joint.

Cautions: Corticosteroids are generally used only in people with gout who can’t take either NSAIDs or colchicine.

Downside: Side effects of corticosteroids may include mood changes, increased blood sugar levels and elevated blood pressure.

Medications to prevent gout complications

Are you suffering gout attack every year or  painful but less frequent? Then your doctor may recommend medication to reduce your risk of gout-related complications.

If you have damage from gout on joint X-rays, or chronic kidney disease or kidney stones, medications to lower your body’s level of uric acid may be recommended. Options include:

Medications that block uric acid production. Drugs called xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOIs), including –

  • allopurinol (Aloprim, Lopurin, Zyloprim) and
  •  febuxostat (Uloric) may lower your blood’s uric acid level and reduce your risk of gout.

Downside:

  1. Side effects of allopurinol include a rash and low blood counts.

2.Febuxostat side effects include rash, nausea, reduced liver function and an increased risk of heart-related death.

  • Medication that improves uric acid removal. These drugs, called uricosurics, include probenecid (Probalan) and lesinurad (Zurampic).
  •  Uricosuric drugs improve your kidneys’ ability to remove uric acid from your body and reduce your risk of gout, but the level of uric acid in your urine is increased.
  • Downside:
  •  Side effects include a rash, stomach pain and kidney stones. Lesinurad can be taken only along with an XOI.

The research was taken from Dr.Gandis G Mazeika MD

Thoughts on "Gout prevention Supplements"