nora
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Gout
Jun 20, 2005 15:26:50 GMT 10
Post by nora on Jun 20, 2005 15:26:50 GMT 10
Does anyone knows what causes gout? What supplements should we take to reduce the pain / attack? My DH had a gout attack recently and we are unsure what we could do to reduce his swelling?
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Gout
Jun 20, 2005 16:11:10 GMT 10
Post by zurynee on Jun 20, 2005 16:11:10 GMT 10
He has to cut down on alot of food especially protein eg. Soya bean, fishes that have metallic looking skin, mushroom, meat and a whole lot of other stuffs. The best to seek doctor's advice and watch his diet.
My sil has very uric acid that causes gout which her doctor told her cannot be reduced further.
Take care.
Zu
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Gout
Jun 20, 2005 22:23:08 GMT 10
Post by min on Jun 20, 2005 22:23:08 GMT 10
Here's information about Gout for those who wants to know more about it:
What is Gout?
An ancient disease, gout is a chronic type of inflammatory arthritis that causes immediate attacks of pain, tenderness, redness, warmth and swelling in some joints. Usually, the joints in the big toe are affected, but gout can also affect the instep, ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers and elbows.
Once believed to be the result of gluttony, gout is now known to affect people from all walks of life and often the disease is inherited. Less than one in ten women will develop gout. About 500,000 people have gout in the United States, with most being men between the ages of 30 and 60. Gout accounts for about 5 percent of all cases of arthritis. Causes of Gout Gout is caused when there is over production of uric acid in normal purine metabolism in the body. Genetics can play a role in who develops gout. It can also occur as a complication of other conditions. Some people inherit the inability to process uric acid and lose it in the urine. High blood levels of uric acid in turn causes sodium monourate crystals to collect in the joint fluid and joint coverings leading to gout, a painful stiff swollen joint. There are many reasons why an episode of gout will appear, including drinking too much alcohol or eating certain kinds of food rich in purines such as seafood, beans, sweetbreads, gravies and anchovies.
Other potential triggers of gout include:
Surgery Stress Crash diets Sudden, severe illness Chemotherapy Joint injury High blood pressure Excessive exercise.
Symptoms of Gout Gout is said by some experts to be one of the most painful of all types of arthritis. Incidents of gout often develop very quickly and sometimes the first incident will be at night. These painful incidents of gout include swelling in the joints that lasts for about a week without treatment. The skin may be red and shiny around the affected joints.
Lumps (tophi) may be found under the skin around the elbows, heels or ears. The uric acid crystals cause these lumps and can also cause kidney stones to develop.
A few people will only experience one gout attack. However, for most people the gout attacks will keep coming back every few months and will be worse in intensity. If the disease is left untreated, it may result in crippling damage to the joints.
Gout is easily identified through a physical examination and diagnostic tests. Your doctor will take a sample of the joint fluid and look for the presence of uric acid crystals. He or she may also take a blood test to measure the amount of uric acid in your body. Treatment of Gout Through the use of certain kinds of medications, a proper diet and exercise, gout sufferers will be able to successfully treat their condition.
Uric acid levels in the body can be controlled through medications, thus reducing the number of gout attacks. Doctors will usually prescribe a medication called allopurinol that stops the over production of uric acid. If the kidneys are not excreting enough uric acid, your doctor may prescribe a different kind of medication such as probenecid or sulfinpyrazone.
Doctors have been using a drug called colchicine for centuries to treat gout attacks. Colchicine relieves pain while limiting the inflammation of the joint. Often the drug provides relief quickly but there are some side effects such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Nonsalicylate NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen may be used for pain relief. Aspirin should not be used because it can actually make symptoms of gout worse.
Talk to your doctor or nutritionist about starting a proper diet. There are certain foods that you should stay away from and be sure to limit your alcohol intake as wine and beer have been shown to make symptoms worse.
A combination of exercise, rest and relaxation is important in achieving an optimum level of health and wellness. Your doctor or physical therapist will help you create an exercise plan such as swimming or walking that will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Written by DynoMed.com, Indianapolis, IN
yeah, pls take care.
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nora
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Gout
Jun 20, 2005 23:47:00 GMT 10
Post by nora on Jun 20, 2005 23:47:00 GMT 10
Zu & Min
Thanks for your advice.
We're now in the process of finding out all the foods that DH needs to cut down. So far, we've found a few and we're now in a better control of the situation than before.
Once again, thanks for your advice.
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Gout
Jun 21, 2005 5:24:37 GMT 10
Post by linlin on Jun 21, 2005 5:24:37 GMT 10
Nora, sorry to hear abt ur DH & pls take care, I hope everything will be under total control very soon.
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Gout
Jun 21, 2005 11:28:05 GMT 10
Post by zurynee on Jun 21, 2005 11:28:05 GMT 10
Zu & Min Thanks for your advice. We're now in the process of finding out all the foods that DH needs to cut down. So far, we've found a few and we're now in a better control of the situation than before. Once again, thanks for your advice. Do take care Zu
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Gout
Jun 22, 2005 11:30:51 GMT 10
Post by jojong on Jun 22, 2005 11:30:51 GMT 10
Nora,
Sorry to hear about your dh. Do take care.
Min,
I used to think that too much good food causes gout till my colleague got it.
Thanks for the info. Now, I have better understanding of gout.
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Gout
Jun 23, 2005 1:26:07 GMT 10
Post by min on Jun 23, 2005 1:26:07 GMT 10
My pleasure, nora and jojong.
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