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Gout Treatment
Gout is a type of arthritis caused by the excessive deposition of crystallized uric acid in the joint.
Gout is a type of arthritis caused by the excessive deposition of crystallized uric acid in the joint.
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Which leads to intense pain, swelling, and stiffness of the joint. Several symptoms of gout occur at night, and they include ;
Which leads to intense pain, swelling, and stiffness of the joint. Several symptoms of gout occur at night, and they include ;
• Intense joint pain:-
Gout affects several joints of the body, including ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, fingers, and toes. Amongst these, the toes are the most susceptible joint affected by gout, hence the reason for the common type of gout been toe gout.
• Inflammation and redness:-
The affected joint becomes swollen, warm, tender, and red, accompanied by severe pains, which is usually at its peak during the first four to twelve hours of its inception.
The deposition of excess crystallized uric acid is the known cause of gout. There is an increment in the level of uric acid in the body due to the following factors that include;
• Diet:-
Consumption of excess alcohol, beverages sweetened with sugar, and eating food rich in meat increases the level of the body’s uric acid, which increases the risk of gout.
• Medical conditions:-
Certain medical conditions that include, diabetes heart & kidney disease, and untreated high blood pressure increases the risk of gout.
• Heredity:-
Gout is an inheritable disease passed from one generation to the other hence if one is part of the family tree, he’s exposed to the risk of getting gout.
• Obesity:-
The size of the body is inversely proportional to the rate at which uric acid is produced in the body. Viz. If one is overweight, the body will produce more uric acid, which increases the risk of gout.
Therefore in order to forestall the risk of gout due to increment in the body’s uric acid. One would have to adhere to dietary guidelines that include; drinking plenty of fluids, limit the intake of meat, fish, and poultry, maintain body weight, and limit or avoid alcohol.
Joint fluid test, blood test, ultrasound, and X-ray imaging are the various tests that help prevent the deterioration of gout. Gout treatment involves the use of medications to heal acute attacks and, at the same time, prevent one from future attacks.
Medications to treat acute gout and also forestalls future attacks include the following ;
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs):-
NSAIDs include OTC (over-the-counter) drugs such as naproxen sodium, celecoxib, and ibuprofen.
• Corticosteroids:-
Corticosteroid medications harness and control the inflammation and pain of gout. Which may either be injected into the joint or taken in the form of a pill. An example of such medication is prednisone.
• Colchicine:-
Colchicine is a type of pain reliever that mitigates the seriousness of pain experienced from gout. Its healing effect is accompanied by a few side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
If there are intermittent gout attacks after treatment, other medications that not only mitigate the level of uric acid but also forestall the body from producing it are recommended. They include ;
• Medications that block uric acid productions:-
They include allupurinol, and uloric drugs collectively known as xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOIs).
• Medications that improve uric acid removal:-
They include probalon and zurampic drugs, collectively known as uricosurics drugs. They improve the kidney’s ability to remove uric acid from the body.
Febuxostat is not advisable to be used for mitigating the body’s uric acid, due to its dangerous side effect that includes a reduction in the liver’s function and increases in the risk of heart-related death.
