Throughout history, gout has been regarded as an affliction of the affluent; rich men who ate and drank excessively seemed to be the lone victims of this disease. Modern research has turned up some interesting revelations about this popular theory; and since over 90% of gout cases occur in men, you’ll want to pay attention.
What is Gout?
A painful form of arthritis, gout is the inflammatory reaction caused by excess monosodium urate crystal deposits in the joints. These deposits are the result of years of high uric acid levels in the body.
Gout can affect:
- Most commonly, the big toe
- Leg
- Knee
- Ankle
- Foot
- Hand
- wrist
- elbow
- Sometimes, the finger
- Rarely, the spine
Symptoms of Gout
- The affected joint usually becomes inflamed (swollen and red) and very painful.
- Decreased urination and urine that is darker in color
- Acute gout flares last 4-10 days
- Chronic gout can spread to other tissues of the body and cause damage to the liver, kidneys, arteries and heart.
Risk Factors for Gout
- Hyperuricemia
- Hypertension
- Renal insufficiency
- Certain diuretics
- Alcohol
- Obesity, a significant factor
- Occupational lead exposure
- Certain high-blood pressure controlling drugs
- Certain surgeries
- Genetics
- Trauma
Men and Gout
The amusing picture of a portly king stricken with gout is accurate to a point; but women can also develop gout. However, the king’s lifestyle factors of obesity and a diet high in alcohol and red meat are certainly indicative of gout in men today.
Gout mostly affects men over age 45, with uric acid levels rising at puberty to the point of hyperuricemia in 5 to 8% of American men. The most common, significant, modifiable indicator of the risk of gout in men was the presence of obesity from a young age. This suggests that gout is highly preventable by eating a healthy diet and exercising early on and continuing throughout life.
The occurrences of gout are on the rise in the
- The modern American lifestyle of little to no exercise
- “Convenience” as an approach to food and diet
- Cultural embrace of alcohol, particularly beer
In one study, 52% of the gout cases reported were linked to excess weight. A whopping 60% were related to obesity, or having a BMI of 30 or higher. Interestingly, weight loss was shown to decrease the risk of gout in men (1).
Treatment of Gout
Gout is usually treated by pharmaceutical drugs your health practitioner will recommend.
Prevention is certainly the best medicine, and because gout is the result of years of poor habits, there is plenty of time to remedy the situation before it’s too late. A healthy diet and exercise plan is going to be your best defense.
(1)http://www.healthandage.com/Home/gm=20!gid2=3005
(2)http://www.seekwellness.com/gout/getting_to_know_gout.htm
(3)http://menshealth.about.com/cs/menonly/a/Gout.htm
