Gout

Gout is a disease caused by the accumulation of excess uric acid in the body then crystallized into a form of urate. The disorder in this disease is the result of the urate crystal causing inflammation such as arthritis. In addition, some people may have nodules, kidney inflammation and urinary tract stones. The disease is mainly occurred in men aged 40 years and above (may occur in less than 40 years but not common). It will be arthritis which occurred fast and severe. It is usually occurred at the ankles, toes and knees, but also can occur elsewhere. The joint that is inflame will swell, warm, when press will feel pain, when walk will feel more painful or cannot walk at all. In most cases, the inflammation will heal by itself within 1 week. When it is healed, it may reoccur. Arthritis is repetitive. At first it is usually not occurred often. However, when left without treatment the symptom will be more frequent. Sometimes the previous joint has not recovered yet, it stars on the new joints. There may be stimuli that lead to arthritis, such as drinking liqueur, beer, exercising a lot; or eating foods that contain purines (after entering the body, it will be converted into uric acid), such as animal organs. The stimuli can be by receiving certain medications, such as certain diuretics. Gout medications can also cause arthritis if it has been taken incorrectly. Some people may develop chronic kidney failure due to various factors such as urate crystals, gallstones, high blood pressure and kidney infection; treatment will prevent kidney damage. People with high uric acid in the blood without any other abnormalities are not considered to have gout and there is no need to take medication to reduce uric acid. However, it needs to be aware that there is a chance to develop gout disease in the future. Once gout has been confirmed starting to take drug is not too late. The most exact diagnosis of gout is the detection of urate crystals in synovial fluid or from nodules by using a needle to extract, then examined under a microscope. In some people, if the symptoms of the disease are obvious, it can be diagnosed based on the history of arthritis together with the symptoms, sex and age of the patient without having to test for urate crystals. It may be understood that once there is arthritis and detect the high uric acid level in the blood will be concluded as gout. In reality, arthritis may be due to other reasons. In addition, in people with gout, it is found that uric acid level in the blood is not high while having arthritis.

Therefore, the testing of uric acid in the blood may be distracted as well, it not well-considered. There are a complete range of medications use to treat gout, including:

1. Medications for treating arthritis
2. Medications for preventing arthritis
3. Medications for reducing uric acid

The use of medication will be at the doctor’s discretion by considering the abnormalities at that time, However, the long-term treatment is medication to reduce uric acid which must consumed for the rest of life. The effective treatment will prevent suffering from arthritis, nodules, if any, will flatten and slow down the damage kidneys from becoming worse. On the other hand, if not treated the symptoms will get worse. Dietary control is a part of the treatment. Dietary control will reduce the uric acid in blood but not sufficient. Therefore, it is necessary to use medication and strictly control diet in people with bad kidneys and nodules. When taking medication until the level of uric acid in the blood is not high, may not have to control food that much.

Guidelines for gout treatment

The treatment for gout is to reduce uric acid levels in the body and prevent reoccurring of inflammation in the joints.

General treatment

General treatment includes abstaining from alcohol, avoid staying up late, in case of stress in obese people advise to lose weight, exercise regularly, treat other chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, drink plenty of water to increase the uric excretion from the body and avoid eating foods that are high in purines such as red meat, animal organs, vegetable shoots or sapling.

At arthritis stage

Reduce the use and putting on the weight on the joint with the symptom; uses heat to apply or soak at the affected area. Avoid intense massage, taking anti-inflammatory or colchicine medications as the doctor instructed. Avoid eating foods that contain aspirin or steroids as it has side effects.

Preventing Recurring of Arthritis

Preventing Recurring of Arthritis by regularly taking prescribed medication, reduce the factors that are thought to stimulate the recurring symptoms and monitor diet as instructed.

In the event of tophi from uric crystals that accumulate underneath the skin on the body, it is advised to take medicines that reduce the making of uric or increasing the excretion of uric regularly as prescribed by doctor.