Gout is one of those diseases that sounds old-fashioned, like something your grandmother used to complain about to your grandfather: “Now, Harry, don’t eat that pastrami, or your gout will act up.” At least, that’s the way it used to go in my grandparents’ house.
Gout is actually a sign that the kidneys are not functioning well. The kidneys produce uric acid, which is normally excreted through your kidneys in your urine. If, however, for some reason your body produces more uric acid than your kidneys are able to process, it stays in the body. It typically gravitates toward the joints, collecting in the form of uric acid crystals. Collection sites commonly include the first joint of the big toe, but the crystals can also collect in the wrists, elbows, and knees, causing pain and swelling in these joints as well.
Gout is similar to rheumatoid arthritis, since it strikes with great unpredictability. After an initial experience of gout, you may not have to worry about it anymore, since some people have only one attack and that’s it. Others, however, will suffer from regular attacks. Unfortunately, the more frequent the attacks, the more likely the gout will spread to other joints.
Some people are genetically prone to gout, although drinking alcohol, taking antibiotics, or eating rich foods—as my grandfather did—is more often the cause since it can cause the body to produce more than the usual amount of uric acid.
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