How to Relieve and Prevent Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis that causes sudden pain in a joint, normally the big toe. It can also affect the ankles, knees and feet. Attacks feel like a sudden burning, accompanied by stiffness and swelling in the joint. Gout is easily recognizable, with the affected area becoming red, swollen and often hot. It is a severely uncomfortable condition and can harm joints, tendons and other tissues over the course of time. Gout is caused by a high level of uric acid in the blood. This high level of uric acid causes the formation of hard crystals in the joints, resulting in painful attacks. However, there are simple ways to manage the pain and perhaps even prevent future outbreaks.

Instructions

1

Rest the joint. An attack of gout can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. During that time, it's best to rest the affected joint so as to not inflict more pain and possibly cause damage to the affected joint.

2

Take a painkiller. There is no type of medication that can instantly cure gout or zap the pain away. Your best bet is to find an anti-inflammatory medication like Ibuprofen that will help reduce the swelling and alleviate the pain. In extremely painful cases, a doctor may be able to prescribe a medication to help stop the attack more quickly.

3

Alter your eating habits. Gout is caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood, but what causes the high levels of uric acid? Sometimes, foods that are high in purine will increase your uric-acid levels. Such foods include red meats, fish and alcohol, particularly beer. Find a healthy mix of foods to eat that provide necessary nutrients, and cut back on these high-purine foods. It may help save you from another attack.

4

Lose weight. Gout attacks seem to happen more frequently in overweight individuals. Losing a few extra pounds may decrease uric-acid levels in your body. However, stay away from any rapid weight-loss techniques, since these have a tendency to temporarily raise uric-acid levels. Not only will you shed a few pounds, you may also save yourself from another bout of gout.

5

Check with your doctor about medications. Occasionally, water pills will cause gout attacks. If you happen to be taking water pills and find yourself having gout, talk to your doctor to see what might be done about it. Also, your doctor may prescribe a medication to reduce uric acid in your blood to prevent future attacks.