Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes joint pain and swelling. It comes as flares for two to four weeks and then disappears or resolves. The gout flares often begin in the big toe or lower limbs.
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With early diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle changes, gout is one of the most manageable forms of arthritis. In some cases, when gout flares are endured and ignored, there can be a decrease in the symptoms and also a permanent disappearance.
We further look into the signs and symptoms that may lead to gout flares. It’s imperative to know who gets gout more than some other people.
Who is More Likely to Develop Gout
Many people can develop gout. It is more common in men than in women. It usually develops in middle age. Among women, gout appears mostly after menopause, which is why it is mostly seen in the later stages of women’s lives. Very rarely, it is seen in young adults, and when it is seen in young adults, it may lead to severe consequences.
Symptoms of Gout
- The most common symptom of gout is pain in the joint, which is affected
- The most common place where the gout attack may begin is the big toe. Occasionally, it may develop in other parts of the body, too.
- Gout flares may suddenly start at night and may be severe enough to wake you up.
- The affected joint may be swollen, warm, and red in colour.
Gout flares usually occur in one joint and can be triggered by certain foods, alcohol, certain medications, physical trauma, and certain illnesses.
Recognizing the early stage of gout symptoms and getting a proper diagnosis is essential for effective treatment.
The four stages described below should be well understood, which will help prevent further progression of gout and damage it can cause.
Stages of Gout
Stage 1: Asymptomatic Gout
It is also called hyperuricemia gout. This stage is characterised by the body producing too much uric acid or the kidneys not being efficient in eliminating excess uric acid. When this uric acid reaches the blood, it is called hyperuricemia.
In some people, it never shows any symptoms, and for the rest of people, it is the first stage of gout.
Stage 2: Acute Gout
When uric acid levels in the blood are too high, it just seeps out and accumulates as crystals in the joints. This deposition leads to acute pain and swelling. Since the pain comes suddenly, it’s termed an attack. The pain may last from a few days to a few weeks.
Knowing the first attack is the first step in recognising the gout problem. However, doing a test or diagnosis by taking the sample from the joint is the way to confirm the presence of gout in the body.
The treatment during the acute gout stage aims to resolve the pain at the site of the attack and reduce the uric acid levels in the body. Some medicines that are used in gout treatment are available on the generic medicine app, which does the medicine delivery, too. A diet low in purines is usually recommended to avoid uric acid buildup; the low purine diet includes fat-free/low-fat content diary products, plant oils, vegetables, vitamin C, coffee, and whole grain products. The medicines work by either increasing the elimination of high uric acid from the body or decreasing the production of uric acid.
Stage 3: Inter Critical or Interval Gout
After the first gout attack stage, there comes a period or stage with no symptoms Until no other attack occurs. The stage at which the attack comes at intervals. It can be short or long. This is called inter-critical or interval gout.
Keeping the weight under control, drinking plenty of water, and eating a diet rich in purines will help manage gout.
Stage 4: Tophaceous Gout
When inter-critical or interval gout is not managed well, it progresses to the most problematic stage, chronic tophaceous gout. The chronic gout stage is characterised by the accumulation of urate crystals called tophi that can deposit in the joint and appear as bumps.
Due to the effective treatment in the early stages, one cannot experience the fourth stage of gout itself. For the one who experienced this stage of gout, they may be taking uric acid-lowering medicines. This will help reduce complications due to gout.
