Gout is a common type of arthritis that affects about 9.2 million Americans. It can occur in any joint, but it’s commonly associated with the big toe, resulting in flare-ups that cause swelling, stiffness, and intense pain. While there’s no cure for gout, you can reduce the frequency of flare-ups with a strategic approach.
At Katy Rheumatology & Associates, P.A., in Katy, Texas, board-certified rheumatologist Padma Chimata, MD, FACP, AGS, and our compassionate team specialize in gout treatment. These five expert tips can help you stay ahead of your symptoms.
The best way to keep flare-ups at bay is to take a preventive approach. Start with these five steps:
The pain and inflammation associated with gout come from the buildup of uric acid crystals. Normally, uric acid dissolves in the blood or is filtered out in urine.
However, some people produce more uric acid than others, or their kidneys don’t function well. If you’re among these people, uric acid crystals can form inside your joints, triggering a painful flare-up.
Thankfully, staying hydrated can lessen some of this buildup. We recommend drinking at least eight glasses of water a day.
Purines are organic compounds that play an important role in DNA formation. They’re necessary for survival, but when the human body digests them, they’re broken down into uric acid.
Because some foods contain more purines than others, it’s important to minimize them if you have gout. Specifically, we recommend cutting back on:
You don’t have to avoid these foods altogether, but eating them in moderation can prevent abnormal amounts of purines from collecting in your blood.
Research suggests a strong link between excess body weight and gout. For example, obese people are 10 times more likely to develop gout than folks who maintain their ideal weight. At the same time, being overweight affects kidney function, making it harder to remove purines from your system.
Although losing weight and keeping it off can be challenging, it’s one of the best ways to prevent gout flare-ups. For instance, losing just a few pounds can help your kidneys function better, allowing them to remove uric acid more quickly from your blood.
We can work with you to develop a diet and exercise plan that helps you stay within the optimal range.
As with foods, your choice of drinks also matters. Alcoholic beverages, like beer and wine, and sugary beverages, like soda and fruit juice, raise uric acid levels. Since high levels of uric acid cause crystals to form inside your joints, mitigating that risk is crucial.
You don’t necessarily have to stop drinking soda and alcohol altogether, but you should make an effort to cut back. For example, after having a soft drink, follow it up with a glass of water. Similarly, if you enjoy having a beer on the weekends, stop at one pint and avoid binge drinking to reduce uric acid production.
Many people who have gout take medication to help manage symptoms. However, for these drugs to work effectively, you must take them on a regular schedule as prescribed. Skipping doses or taking your medication at a different time each day can affect how your body processes them and increase the risk of flare-ups.
Gout is a chronic ailment, but with the right help, you can manage it safely and effectively. Contact us today if you need help developing a personalized gout treatment plan. Call our office in Katy or book an appointment online.
