Diet for gout is one of the most important components of treatment. As you know, it is impossible to completely get rid of this disease, but it is quite possible to make periods of remission longer. Following a diet for gout is very important to prevent exacerbations and maintain good health in the patient.
For gout, as well as for urolithiasis with the formation of stones from uric acid salts (uraturia), a gout diet (diet No. 6). This diet helps normalize purine metabolism, reduce the formation of uric acid and its salts in the body, and alkalinize urine. What does a patient’s diet for gout ?
If you have gout, it is very important to follow a proper diet. You should eat regularly, 4 times a day. Overeating and starvation are unacceptable - this can provoke an attack. Patients with gout need to fight excess weight, but sudden weight loss is undesirable.
The diet for gout must include a sufficient amount of fluid - at least 1.5 - 2 liters, and during an exacerbation - up to 3 liters. This can be mineral water, compotes, fruit drinks, weak tea. Rosehip decoction is very useful. It is advisable to drink between meals.
So what does the gout diet ? First of all, restrictions apply to meat products. The patient should give up meat, fish and mushroom broths, meat of young animals, offal (liver, kidneys, lungs), smoked meats and sauces, and animal fats.
Salted and fried fish, canned fish, and caviar are excluded. In case of exacerbation, fatty fish of any kind are also excluded.
When following a diet for gout, you must avoid all types of legumes (lentils, peas, beans, beans, soybeans), and various spices (pepper, horseradish, mustard).
Alcohol, including beer, is strictly prohibited.
Strong tea, coffee, cocoa are not recommended. Chocolate, cream cakes and pastries, raspberries, figs, and grapes are excluded.
Salty and spicy cheeses are also prohibited.
It is recommended to include primarily dietary types of meat in the diet for gout Chicken eggs, boiled fish, squid, and shrimp are allowed.
When following a diet for gout, low-fat cottage cheese and dishes made from it, low-fat varieties of cheese are very useful. Porridges from various cereals and pasta are recommended. Porridge is cooked in diluted milk. Use whole milk with caution.
Almost all types of vegetables are recommended - white cabbage, carrots, potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant. Somewhat limit cauliflower, asparagus, spinach, rhubarb, celery, peppers, radishes. Greens are useful, but green onions and parsley - in small quantities.
Non-chocolate candies, jam, marmalade, marshmallows, and marshmallows are allowed as sweets. Fruits are very useful - apples, plums, pears, apricots, oranges, as well as various berries, all types of nuts, seeds.
A diet for gout involves limiting salt intake.
The gout diet allows the following drinks - green tea, tea with lemon, milk, chicory, rosehip infusions, wheat bran, fruit juices, berries, vegetables, fruit drinks, kvass, compotes. Drinks made from lingonberries and cranberries are especially valuable. Cucumber juice (up to 1 glass per day), alkaline mineral waters (low mineralized) help remove excess purines from the body.
White and black bread are allowed. Vegetable oil is better (olive, flaxseed is a must), but butter is limited.
When the disease worsens, meat and fish are limited or even completely eliminated, and every other day they arrange fasting days (fruit and vegetable days - 1.5 kg of permitted vegetables or fruits); curd-kefir (400 g low-fat cottage cheese +500 g kefir); milk or kefir (1 - 2 liters). This diet promotes alkalinization of urine and increases the solubility of uric acid.
Outside of an exacerbation, meat and fish are allowed (no more than 3 times a week), but only boiled ones, since more than half of the purine substances go into the broth. From boiled meat (fish) it is good to make cutlets, meatballs, soufflés; you can also steam and bake dishes. Vegetables and potatoes are boiled or steamed.
During all periods of the disease, gout diet No. 6 and periodic fasting days (compote, cottage cheese, milk, apple, carrot, watermelon) are recommended.
Diet for gout No. 6 suggests:
Culinary processing is common, but boiling meat, poultry and fish is mandatory.
The food temperature is normal.
Excludes: meat, fish and mushroom broths, sorrel, spinach and legume soups.
Limit products made from butter dough.
Excludes: liver, kidneys, tongue, brains, meat of young animals and birds, sausages, smoked meats, salted fish, canned meat and fish, caviar.
Excludes: salted cheeses
Excludes: mushrooms, fresh legumes, spinach, sorrel, rhubarb, cauliflower, purslane; limit - salted and pickled;
Exclude: salty snacks, smoked meats, canned food, fish caviar;
Excludes: chocolate, figs, raspberries, cranberries.
Exclude: sauces based on meat, fish, mushroom broths, pepper, mustard, horseradish.
Exclude: cocoa, strong tea and coffee.
Excludes: beef, lamb, cooking fats.
Limit pork fat.
First breakfast: vegetable salad with vegetable oil, soft-boiled egg, carrot pudding with apples and millet, tea.
Second breakfast: rosehip decoction.
Lunch: milk noodle soup, fried potato cutlets, jelly.
Afternoon snack: fresh apples.
Dinner: baked cheesecakes, cabbage rolls stuffed with vegetables and rice, tea.
“The disease of kings” or “the disease of rich people” - until quite recently this was the name given to gout, a disease caused by a violation of uric acid metabolism.
Accumulating in the joints, uric acid salts cause inflammation and destruction, therefore, as soon as gout is diagnosed, treatment must be selected immediately.
Abuse of protein foods, smoked meats, seafood, carbonated and alcoholic drinks really contributes to the development of gout, but increasingly the disease can be found in various social strata. The majority of patients are men over 40 years of age and postmenopausal women.
The first episode of gout in most cases begins with the big toe, hence the literal translation of the name of the disease - “foot trap”. Even if the joint of the big toe is not initially affected, as a rule, in 90% of patients this symptom develops with further progression of the disease.
With gout, the level of uric acid in the blood increases several times and hyperuricemia occurs. This phenomenon can be caused by excess production of uric acid or impaired excretion through the kidneys, or a combination of both of these factors. Attacks of acute arthritis in this disease are associated with the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in the joint tissues, which cause an inflammatory process.
During exacerbations, intense pain occurs, depriving a person of the ability to fully move. Approximately two days before the onset of an acute attack, the patient may feel a general malaise, slight discomfort or a pulling sensation in the area of the big toe and other joints. Dyspeptic symptoms, chills and fever may also be observed.
To answer the question: how to treat gout, it is necessary to examine the patient in detail, identify concomitant diseases and determine the stage of the disease.
An attack of acute gouty arthritis usually begins at night with sharp pain in the joint of the big toe. With the slightest movement, as well as in contact with linen or clothing, the pain intensifies.
Beginning of a gout attack
After a few days, the symptoms of the disease subside, and the functionality of the affected joint is gradually restored. However, we must not forget that after a certain period of time, gout will certainly remind you of its existence with new, increasingly recurring attacks.
In the chronic course of the disease, damage and deformation of new joints occurs, up to their immobilization; painful tophi form on the feet, elbows and hands; blood vessels and internal organs may be affected.
In case of an acute attack of gout, the patient must be provided with rest, and it is recommended that the sore leg be placed in an elevated, fixed position; a pillow can be placed under it. You need to drink a lot of liquid, mineral waters are best: Borjomi, Essentuki, Truskavetskaya, water with lemon juice, oat decoction.
Colchicine, a herbal preparation containing tropolone alkaloids, effectively stops an attack, especially when taken in the first hours after its onset, but is not able to completely cure gout. The initial dosage is 0.5 mg orally. Taking colchicine during the interictal period is not only irrational, but also dangerous.
The drugs of choice for exacerbations include NSAIDs - Indomethacin, Diclofenac, Meloxicam, Nimesulide. Acetylsalicylic acid is not prescribed for gout. If colchicine and NSAIDs are ineffective, glucocorticosteroids are injected into the inflamed joint, simultaneously administering them orally.
Indomethacin for gout
Recently, drugs for gout have been created that are effective and push other methods of therapy into the background. Even strict adherence to the diet is not able to reduce uricemia and daily uricosuria to the required level in most patients.
Treatment of gout with medications has two main directions: relief of an acute attack of gouty arthritis and constant systematic correction of purine metabolism disorders. An important role is played by the prevention of exacerbations, as they complicate the course of the disease and contribute to the occurrence of complications.
Uricodepressants (Allopurinol) - reduce the synthesis of uric acid by inhibiting xanthine oxidase. Uricosuric drugs (Probenecid, Azapropazone, Sulfinpyrazone) reduce the tubular reabsorption of urate, which is why uric acid is intensively excreted by the kidneys. There are also mixed-action drugs.
Allopurinol for gout
If gout or asymptomatic hyperuricemia is combined with arterial hypertension, Losartan can be used, which, along with the antihypertensive effect, has a uricosuric effect.
The use of Allopurinol can reduce the number of exacerbations of gouty arthritis, simultaneously eliminating the risk of formation of urate stones in the urinary tract. The minimum effective dose of the drug is selected individually for each patient to reduce possible side effects. To prevent the formation of xanthine stones, when treating with Allopurinol, the patient should take sufficient alkaline drinks.
About 20% of patients do not tolerate this drug well, and they have a question: how to replace Allopurinol for gout. If allopurinol is intolerant, uricosuric agents are prescribed.
If treatment with other drugs does not bring the desired effect, corticosteroids (Prednisolone) are used in short courses.
Treatment of gout with folk remedies at home can be carried out only in the periods between attacks, having previously agreed on the chosen method with a doctor. It will not be possible to completely get rid of the disease in this way, but it is quite possible to delay the occurrence of exacerbations.
Gout can be treated at home with infusions and decoctions for internal use, external ointments, compresses and foot baths. The only thing that needs to be taken into account is that it will be very long.
Foot baths are best done before bedtime and at least 4 times a week. To prepare the required solution, dilute 3 teaspoons of regular baking soda in three liters of hot boiled water and add 9 drops of iodine. The bath solution should be at such a temperature that burns do not occur. The duration of the procedure is 5-7 minutes, after which the sore spot is smeared with iodine, wrapped in wax paper and wrapped warmly until the morning. In the morning, the treated areas should be lubricated with Vaseline or olive oil. During treatment, it is recommended to consume only dairy products and plant foods.
Foot baths with iodine
Four tablespoons of powdered activated carbon tablets are mixed with two tablespoons of flax seeds, also crushed as much as possible, and a little warm water is added to obtain a homogeneous thick mass with a consistency reminiscent of sour cream. The resulting mixture is applied to the sore spot overnight, covering the top with a warm cloth.
3 bottles of pharmaceutical tincture of valerian must be mixed with a bottle of triple cologne or 50 g of ethyl alcohol and left overnight (let it brew for a day). Every day before going to bed, moisten a piece of cotton wool with the resulting mixture, apply it to the sore spot and, wrap it warmly, leave it overnight.
Compresses with valerian tincture
In patients with relatively low hyperuricemia and infrequently recurring arthritis, following a special diet brings a noticeable effect. A low-purine diet involves limiting animal products: meat, liver, seafood (shellfish) and high-protein plants (peas, beans, soy).
The influence of alcohol and food of animal origin on the development of gout has been scientifically proven, but the role of plant sources is not always confirmed. Milk proteins have a uricosuric effect, which reduces the concentration of uric acid in the blood. Therefore, dairy products and cereals are recommended. Eating a large amount of vegetables and fruits, nuts is encouraged.
Diet for gout
The components of tea and coffee, although similar to purine bases, do not increase hyperuricemia in healthy individuals, which cannot be said about people with concomitant diseases.
Despite the fact that it is impossible to completely cure gout, in most cases the prognosis is quite favorable. Timely detection of the disease and the appointment of rational treatment are of great importance. Aggravating factors include: onset of the disease before the age of 30, a combination of urolithiasis with urinary tract infections and progressive renal dysfunction.
Gout is one of the few dangerous heterogeneous diseases. It is considered quite common among the vast majority of older people. Previously, only men suffered from this disease; today, gout often affects women as well.
The clinical picture mainly consists of improper removal of the appearance of peculiar salt growths on the bones. Externally, such growths look like acute arthritis. Gout can be easily treated even at home. Patients do not have to go to the hospital to get rid of this problem.
In some cases, discomfort or even a burning sensation may occur in the bladder. This is due to the fact that salt dissolves in the body and irritates the mucous membranes. There is no need to be afraid of this.
Recipe No. 1. A healing decoction of chamomile will perfectly soothe gout-affected limbs. The flowers should be filled with water mixed with salt (ratio 100 grams / 10 liters / 20 grams). After the solution has infused, make a bath.
Recipe No. 2. Ordinary fir cones will help perfectly cleanse your joints. To do this, pour 1.5 cups of hot boiled water into the unopened cone with seeds and leave overnight. The decoction should be taken 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The procedure should be repeated until complete recovery.
Recipe No. 3. Cleansing joints with bay leaves is also recommended. 5 grams of bay leaves should be poured into 1.5 glasses of water and boiled for at least 5 minutes. The container should not be covered with a lid, because the leaves contain essential oils that adversely affect the kidneys during gout. The resulting broth is removed from the stove, wrapped in a towel and left for at least 3 hours. After infusion, the composition should be drunk within 24 hours.
Recipe No. 4. Boiled rice also has a beneficial effect on cleansing joints. 2 tbsp. The rice must be rinsed with water several times, then poured into a half-liter jar, filled with water and left overnight. In the morning, rinse again and cook. After boiling, remove from heat, rinse again and bring to a boil again. This procedure is repeated 4 times. When everything is done, the rice is washed one last time and eaten without salt or oil. After taking this “medicine” you should not drink or eat for four hours. Repeat the procedure in the evening. This should be done for 45 days. Thanks to prolonged washing, starch disappears from the grains. And with repeated boiling, cells are formed. Thanks to this, the rice does not settle in the stomach, but quickly passes into the duodenum. There the cells begin to work and take in toxins, thus cleansing the entire body.
Black radish juice is one of the most powerful juices for removing salts from joints (including crushing stones in the kidneys and other organs) and strengthening blood vessels.
Only freshly squeezed black radish juice is used. Reception begins with 1 teaspoon, an hour after meals (can be diluted with any other juice to your taste). Each time we increase the dosage, first bringing it to 1 tablespoon of juice, and then to 0.5 cup consumed at a time. This is necessary so as not to harm your body, and at the same time check whether there will be any side effects, especially pain in the liver area on the right. If pain appears, then we reduce the dosage or take a break altogether.
During such treatment, you should avoid sour and spicy foods. The course of treatment continues until at least 3 liters of black radish juice are drunk in total.
Red madder roots. You need to pour one teaspoon of these roots into a glass of boiling water and let it brew, or better yet, boil it in a water bath for about 10 minutes. The infusion should be taken in the morning and evening, half a glass.
External remedy. First you need to mix 3 bottles of pharmaceutical tincture of valerian with a bottle of triple cologne and leave to infuse overnight. Now you need to lubricate the sore spots, that is, protruding bones, with this mixture at night using a cotton swab. Place polyethylene on top and tie it with something warm. After a few days, the joint will begin to twist, the skin will turn white, and itching may begin.
Salt compress. Pour 500 grams of iodized salt into a saucepan, add a little water and boil until the water evaporates. When all the water comes out, you should add 200 grams of medical Vaseline or chicken fat, mix everything and make a compress from this solution overnight. It is better to place the solution on a woolen cloth and secure it with a bandage. But, in addition to external use of the ointment, it was also necessary to drink a decoction of linden.
Fish compresses for gout. You need to take 2 kilograms of fish scraps, separate the meat from the ridge, and throw away the ridge itself. Divide all the meat into 10 parts, put it in small bags and put it in the freezer. Before going to bed, defrost one bag at a time. Place the bag of fish on your foot and put on warm socks on top. The next morning, wash your feet and throw away the fish or give it to the cat. After 10 days the pain will stop.
Cold and heat. This method was developed in Japan by a doctor who first decided to use cold and heat to treat joints. You need to prepare 2 vessels in advance. Pour cold water with ice into one, and put any cereal grains into the other and pour boiling water over them. As a result, the grains should steam and remain hot enough for the joint to be lowered into them. Now lower the sore joint first into a vessel with cold water for 3-5 seconds, and then immediately into a vessel with grains. If the joints in your hands hurt, knead the grains with your hands; this procedure brings a lot of pleasure. After this, the hand or other sore joint should be tied with a woolen scarf to warm the joints. Do this every day for two to three months. The treatment is long but effective.
Salo. Buy regular lard and cut it so that you can put small pieces of lard on each finger. And now rub each piece into the skin until the pieces become very small. After this procedure, the used pieces of lard should be thrown away. And if you are tormented by constant pain, then apply pieces of lard to the sore spots at night, securing with a bandage. The next morning you will see a noticeable improvement. It is also recommended to eat wheat porridge with butter for a week. It will help get rid of salts in the joints. And after the first week you can switch to milk porridge.
Butter ointment. You need to take homemade unsalted butter and the same amount of alcohol. They begin to heat the oil until foam appears, then turn off the gas and pour alcohol into the oil. Carefully set fire to the alcohol, and when the alcohol burns out, the ointment will be ready. Place it in a jar and store it in the refrigerator. You can use any utensils that you don’t mind, for example, an old frying pan. You need to rub the ointment in a warm place, for example, next to a stove or fireplace; it is not necessary to wrap it up. Rub until the pain goes away.
Iodine baths. For bone growths, you can also do foot baths in the evenings. To 3 liters of water you need to add 9 drops of iodine solution and 3 teaspoons of baking soda. The result will not take long to arrive. In just 10 nights you will see the result.
Onion soup. Wash 2-3 onions and add a liter of water. Cook together with the peel until the onion is softened. You should take a glass of this decoction 3 times a day before meals. The course of treatment for gout is 10–15 days.
Mustard against gout. To prepare mustard slurry, take 1 tsp. honey, mustard powder and regular baking soda. Mix the components thoroughly, apply the resulting mixture to the affected joints, which have been previously steamed. We wrap the top of the limb with any plastic film and secure it with bandages. This unusual compress should remain on the skin throughout the night. The full course of treatment should be at least two weeks of daily procedures.
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For treatment to be successful, it is extremely important to follow simple rules of healthy eating. It is recommended to somewhat limit the consumption of meat and fish, cauliflower and sorrel, and not eat spinach. Berries, chocolate, figs, coffee and very strong green tea should be consumed in small quantities and preferably in the first half of the day. You should also definitely exclude beer and various wines from your daily diet. Instead, it is recommended to significantly increase the amount of clean water you drink.
Diet. Find out more about what you can and can't eat, as well as other features, here
You can drink freshly squeezed juices and not very sweet fruit drinks, as well as alkaline mineral water. With such a diet, the patient begins to lose weight, which has a beneficial effect on the treatment of gout.
Gout refers to a disease that occurs due to metabolic disorders, most often protein metabolism. Because of this, a large amount of salt begins to be deposited not in the renal system, but in the joint area. First, arthritis develops, then it develops into gout, with which a person experiences severe pain and has impaired movement. The disease affects your entire lifestyle. There are a large number of methods for treating gout; traditional methods play an important role.
After uric acid has accumulated in the joint area, lump-shaped formations begin to appear and are visible. The immune system begins to fight the disease, and the level of leukocytes in the blood rises sharply. They can affect the joint that is affected, causing hyperemia and severe pain. In cases where the disease is advanced, the joint may be completely destroyed; in this situation, only surgery will help.
Traditional healers say that in order for their methods to help, the first thing you need to do is pay attention to your diet. Most often, gout is caused by the fact that a person consumes large amounts of animal fat. This also includes people who are fond of cognac, champagne, and wines.
To successfully cure the disease, you need to forget about the following foods: fatty fish, meat, smoked meats, canned food, rich broths with meat, fish, mushrooms, chocolate, coffee, cocoa, tea, cauliflower, spicy cheeses, offal, spinach. The entire list contains purines, so you should not eat these foods if you have gout. Also, food should contain as little salt as possible.
For gout, it is recommended to include in your diet: lean boiled meat, raw vegetables and fruits, kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk, potatoes, durum wheat pasta, white, rye, and whole grain bread. You can include some eggs in your diet. The following vegetables must be on the menu: beets, eggplants, soups with vegetables, with milk. For gout, it is recommended to eat citrus fruits.
You need to drink up to three liters of water per day. In no case should you allow the body to starve if you have gout, as this may increase uric acid in the blood, which will only worsen the disease. It is imperative to monitor your diet; it must be balanced and healthy.
You need to take unsalted butter, it is best to prepare it yourself at home, the effect will be much better.
The butter needs to be melted until foam begins to form, add alcohol. Set it on fire a little, everything should burn until it burns out completely. Afterwards, place the mixture in a glass jar and place in a cool place. When the disease worsens, you need to apply the prepared oil ointment to the sore spot, while you are near the stove, fireplace, radiator or heater. Hold it until the pain goes away completely.
1. For the recipe you will need an onion - 3 pieces, one liter of water, boil everything until you see that the onion is boiled. Strain everything and consume 150 ml of the decoction before meals for at least two weeks. When gout pain reappears, therapy must be repeated.
2. A solution based on iodine and aspirin. To prepare this effective medicine, you need to take at least 6 tablets of aspirin and dissolve it in iodine. You should get a colorless liquid, then wipe all joints with the solution at night, be sure to wear warm mittens on your hands and woolen socks on your feet.
3. It is recommended to take baths for your feet and hands; be sure to add a few drops of iodine and soda to them. If you take them regularly, you will notice excellent results; there will be significantly less salt deposits.
It is recommended to prepare special decoctions and infusions at home, which include medicinal herbs. It is especially useful to take baths with the addition of chamomile flowers. To prepare it, you will need 10 liters of water, 100 grams of plant, and add 150 grams of salt.
If you regularly use the series as an external and internal remedy, you will notice how the disease begins to go away. It is best to collect the string when the buds are forming.
For gout, healers recommend using lilac tincture with alcohol. To prepare it, you need to take a 500 ml jar and pour 150 ml of alcohol. Let it sit for one week, stirring occasionally. When the tincture is ready, you need to drink it internally. up to 25 drops three times a day.
An effective remedy for the treatment of gout is lingonberry; the leaves must be used. Prepare an infusion and drink it. Beneficial weeds include weed, and infusions are prepared from it.
Healers recommend treating gout with pine needles; applying a compress is especially useful. To prepare a decoction, you need to take half a kilogram of a fresh plant and add boiled water. Leave for one hour, simmer over low heat. The compress should be applied before going to bed.
To do this, you need to prepare a garlic tincture. Take half a kilo of garlic, chop it, pour one liter of vodka, leave in the sun for 10 days. After adding it to milk or fruit juice, drink it on an empty stomach.
To get rid of gout pain, you need to use compresses based on vinegar and garlic. In order to prepare them, you need to finely chop the garlic and pour vinegar over it. Leave for 20 days, then you can be treated with this remedy.
Take 10 charcoal tablets, grind them into powder, add flaxseeds. Fill everything with water, you should get a paste consistency. Then you need to apply the mixture to the joints that are affected before going to bed. The patient feels better in the morning.
Thus, treatment of gout with folk remedies is economical, safe and effective.
Gout is a disease caused by metabolic disorders. It develops due to the deposition of uric acid salts in the joints.
This pathology was described by ancient physicians. It was once called the “disease of kings.” This is explained by the fact that gout mostly affected very wealthy people, whose daily diet included large amounts of animal protein (“red meat”), as well as alcoholic beverages.
Currently, gout is diagnosed relatively rarely; it is detected in only 3% of the population. It affects men over 40 years of age to a greater extent.
Representatives of the fair sex usually develop gout during menopause (more often after 55 years), when the synthesis of female sex hormones - estrogens - sharply decreases in their body.
Children and young people almost never get gout. In the rarest cases, the disease can affect a young body if there are congenital disorders of uric acid metabolism.
As a rule, gout is characterized by a chronic, paroxysmal course. During an attack, the patient suffers from pain and limited mobility in the problem joints.
The main factor predisposing to the development of the disease is a persistently high level of uric acid in the patient’s blood. Its derivatives (urates) are deposited in the form of crystals in the joints, as well as in some other organs (in particular, the kidneys), which causes the development of gout. A compound such as sodium urate tends to be deposited in joint tissue, leading to its destruction over time.
A high level of uric acid in gout may be due to its large intake into the body, when even completely healthy kidneys cannot cope with excretion. Another situation is possible when the body receives a normal amount of this compound through nutritional means, but the functional activity of the kidneys is reduced for one reason or another.
Important: the main source of uric acid is food rich in purines, mainly animal meat and fatty fish.
Purine compounds enter the body not only through the diet (with protein foods), but are also synthesized endogenously. During metabolism, they are broken down into uric acid, which is then excreted by the kidneys, i.e., excreted in the urine. When there is an excess of acid, it and its derivatives are deposited in the form of crystals in tissues that are minimally penetrated by blood vessels, such as cartilage and tendons, which leads to the appearance of gout symptoms.
Please note: uric acid is required by the human body in normal quantities. It protects blood vessels by acting as a powerful antioxidant.
Factors predisposing to the development of the disease include:
As a rule, the disease begins with an attack of the so-called. gouty arthritis. Initially, the inflammatory process affects only one joint. Usually the big toe (less often the ankle or knee joint) is affected first. The attack most often begins at night or in the morning. The pain appears suddenly; it has a pressing character and is characterized by high intensity. The affected joint quickly swells, and its projection shows hyperemia of the skin and a local increase in temperature.
Important: in some cases (during severe attacks), a general increase in body temperature (up to 39°) is possible.
The skin often takes on a “glossy” appearance. During the day, the intensity of the pain decreases somewhat, but increases again at night. The total duration of an attack of gouty arthritis can range from 2-3 days to 1-1.5 weeks. As the process progresses, other joints are also affected, the tissue of which undergoes partial destruction over time.
Characteristic clinical signs of gout:
Please note: when the characteristic gouty growths break through, white crystals can be seen. These are deposits of conglomerates of uric acid salts.
The most common complications of the disease develop:
Gouty arthritis results from the body's immune response recognizing crystalline deposits as a foreign object. Inflammation develops as a result of the migration of a large number of leukocytes to the pathological focus.
Urolithiasis is another of the most serious complications of gout. Its outcome is often kidney failure, which in turn can cause death.
It is almost impossible to completely get rid of this chronic pathology. After the first attack, the disease may not make itself felt for up to a year or more, but this does not mean that the disease went away on its own. As it progresses, the intervals between attacks will inevitably become shorter.
Important: if you follow a strict diet and other instructions from your doctor, you can ensure that gout goes into a “dormant state” and attacks will occur relatively rarely.
For gout, treatment is carried out at home. An acute attack is an indication for strict bed rest. It is advisable to keep the limb, the joints of which are affected by the inflammatory process, in an elevated position, placing something soft under them (a rolled up blanket or pillow).
The disease primarily affects small joints, and therefore, increased attention should be paid to improving their mobility. It is recommended to make it a rule to do exercises for your joints every day, while avoiding excessive stress. Patients should take walks in the fresh air more often, preferably outside the city limits, where the air is less polluted. If the joints of the foot are affected, you should stop wearing tight, uncomfortable shoes.
A patient in the acute phase of the disease needs to drink as much as possible (at least 3 liters per day). Drinks with an alkaline reaction - mineral water or milk - are best suited. Water with lemon juice helps. It has been experimentally proven that citric acid dissolves urate deposits.
Important: while consuming a lot of fluid, you need to control daily diuresis (volume of urine output).
It is better to slightly reduce food consumption before the attack stops. Preference should be given to semi-liquid products - porridges and pureed soups.
You can reduce pain by applying an ice pack to the sore joint. Compresses with Dimexide or Vishnevsky's liniment can achieve a good effect.
Of the pharmacological agents, the most effective for stopping an attack or reducing the intensity of pain in gout are NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Most often doctors recommend Diclofenac. The solution should be administered intramuscularly, 1 ampoule (3 ml) per day. A course of treatment for gout for 5 days is indicated. It is imperative to maintain a time interval of at least 12 hours between injections.
Other drugs in this pharmacological group include Naproxen, Butadione, Indomethacin and Methindol - they can also be prescribed for gout.
Colchicine is very effective for emergency use. An alkaloid of plant origin prevents the crystallization of urates; it must be administered within the first 12 hours after the onset of a gout attack.
Important: conventional painkillers (Analgin, etc.) are practically ineffective during a gout attack.
In order to quickly reduce the level of uric acid and its metabolites, Febuxostat, Thiopurinol, Allopurinol, Milurit and Hepatocatazal are used. During gout remission, Probenecid may be indicated for treatment. Medications that reduce the level of uric acid in the blood should only be prescribed by an experienced rheumatologist. Self-medication often leads to worsening of the condition!
Important: patients with severe forms of the disease may be given intravenous injections of the enzymatic drug Pegloticase, which is capable of dissolving urate crystals. The drug is administered 2 times a month in a hospital setting, due to the real danger of developing anaphylactic shock. The disadvantage of this drug is its high cost.
To quickly reduce inflammation, in some cases hormonal drugs from the glucocorticoid group are used - Prednisolone, Cortisone, Hydrocortisone. These drugs suppress the immune system, so their use is justified when the expected benefit outweighs the possible risk to the patient.
In order to reduce the frequency of attacks, you need to reconsider your taste preferences and make your diet more balanced. Patients are shown therapeutic diet No. 6, which involves reducing the consumption of meat products, fatty fish, mushrooms, marinades, smoked meats, sorrel, cauliflower, legumes and chocolate and introducing large amounts of milk, cheeses, vegetables, fruits, whole grains and cereals into the diet.
Important: patients with gout can consume no more than 120 grams of animal protein per day!
The elimination of excess uric acid in the urine in people suffering from nicotine addiction and consuming alcoholic beverages proceeds much more slowly, so cigarettes and alcohol (especially beer) will have to be abandoned.
It is also advisable to reduce or completely eliminate the consumption of drinks such as “powdered” (reconstituted) juices with fructose, strong tea, coffee, cocoa and soda with sodium benzoate.
At least once a week you need to arrange “fasting days”, during which you need to adhere to a “mono-diet” with the consumption of one product. Completely hungry days are strictly excluded!
For external use, traditional medicine recommends an ointment based on homemade unsalted butter. Melt the butter over low heat until foam appears and pour the same amount of ethanol into it. The resulting mixture must be set on fire and wait until all the alcohol burns out. The finished product is poured into a clean container and stored in the refrigerator. When the next attack begins, the ointment should be rubbed into the affected joint while being in front of a heat source.
Onion decoction is also considered an effective folk remedy for the treatment of gout. For 3 onions you need to take 1 liter of water and cook over low heat until the onion is completely boiled. The broth should be cooled, strained and taken orally 200 ml 3 times a day before meals. The duration of the course is 2 weeks.
Foot baths with iodine are also useful for gout. Add 3 tsp to 3 liters of warm water. sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and 9 drops of iodine. Regular procedures with this type of treatment help reduce the volume of salt deposits.
Another recipe for a folk remedy for the treatment of gout: for 5 tablets of acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin), take 10 ml of a 5% alcohol solution of iodine. After mixing, you should get an absolutely clear liquid, which should be rubbed into sore joints in the evening before bed. After rubbing, you need to put warm mittens or socks on your hands or feet.
Other folk remedies for gout include tincture of lilac flowers, infusion of lingonberry leaves and compresses based on a decoction of fresh spruce or pine needles.
Plisov Vladimir, medical observer
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When uric acid in the blood is elevated due to gout, kidney function is impaired, leading to inflammatory processes in the joints. If timely measures are not taken to reduce the level of acid in the body, this can cause serious complications in the form of kidney disease and deformation of the movable joints.
When protein metabolism, in particular purine metabolism, is disrupted, a large amount of uric acid accumulates in the human body, which is redirected through the bloodstream to the membranes of the joints. As the pathological condition progresses, it turns into salt deposits, called urates, and affects the structural units of the joints. Due to the accumulation of salts, cartilage tissue and periarticular soft tissues are injured, which causes an inflammatory reaction and leads to the development of gouty disease.
Gout is considered an age-related disease and mainly affects men.
A high content of uric acid against the background of gout is observed with kidney dysfunction, when the organs are not able to remove the normal amount of urate from the body. This phenomenon is observed in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, which lead to renal failure. Another cause of gout is the inability of the kidneys to cope with pathologically large amounts of uric acid, which accumulates during metabolic disorders. Often gout develops into a chronic form with periodic remissions. When uric acid is very high, attacks occur in the form of gouty arthritis, which initially affects the big toes and feet, after which they can spread to the hands and large joints.
Normally, the human body contains a small amount of uric acid, which is synthesized in the liver and redirected into the blood plasma. The kidneys are responsible for its removal. When a paired organ is dysfunctional, metabolic processes are disrupted and, as a consequence, urate accumulates, which leads to damage to many organs and systems. Uric acid levels are considered the most informative in the diagnosis of gout. This is due to the fact that at the initial stages of development the pathology is practically asymptomatic. When determining changes in acid levels, use the data given in the table:
Disruption of metabolic processes leads to changes in the normal breakdown and absorption of purines, which synthesize large amounts of uric acid. Leaving the liver, it enters the bloodstream. Excretion of uric acid occurs through the kidneys. A small part is broken down in the intestines under the influence of microorganisms. Kidney dysfunction provokes the accumulation of acid, which turns into urate salts and is deposited in the joint cavities, causing injury to cartilage tissue and inflammation, which leads to the development of the arthritic form of urinary gout.
There are a number of negative factors that can provoke a pathological condition:
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The attack of the disease begins abruptly and, as a rule, at night. There is severe pain that intensifies with movement. In the area of the affected joint, decay products accumulate, which causes swelling and hyperemia of the soft tissues. At the same time, there is an increase in local temperature. The inflammatory reaction leads to impaired mobility of the joint and can provoke muscle weakness. An aggressive form of inflammation is accompanied by general intoxication, which is manifested by chills, nausea, drowsiness and increased body temperature.
If you do not reduce the negative impact on the joints in time, you can provoke the development of formations in the subcutaneous tissue - tophi. The advanced form of the pathology is accompanied by functional changes in the kidneys and causes urolithiasis and sometimes renal failure. In this case, the patient experiences problems with urination and nagging pain in the lower back, and the color of the urine changes.
To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor collects anamnesis and examines the affected joints. Blood and urine tests are required to determine uric acid levels and important elements. They also examine the synovial fluid for the presence of salt crystals. Next, the following diagnostic methods are used:
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Diet therapy is used to reduce acid levels. Foods that contain a large amount of protein (fatty meats and fish, legumes) are excluded from the diet, and vegetarian dishes are introduced. You can get rid of the negative symptoms of the disease with the help of medications. To relieve pain, use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen and Nurofen. To reduce acid levels, a drug such as Allopurinol is used. Diuretics are prescribed that help remove uric acid, in particular, Eufillin tablets. Treatment of aggressive gout involves taking a pharmaceutical drug such as Colchicine. At least one medicine is prescribed that breaks down urates, for example, Soluran. They also use medications that remove uric acid, for example, the drug "Anturan".
Folk remedies help fight gout. Medicinal herbs are used, which are added to baths and tinctures. Ointments based on bee products work well.
Untimely treatment of gout leads to active growth of tophi, which provoke severe pain and significantly impair joint mobility. In this case, surgical intervention to remove them is indicated. And also a long-term inflammatory process leads to chronic kidney pathologies and the formation of stones in the bladder.
To minimize the risk of developing urinary gout, it is important to adhere to a proper diet with a minimum content of animal proteins. It is important to alternate physical activity with proper rest. It is recommended to eliminate bad habits and monitor your water balance. Elderly people and people with kidney disease need to undergo regular preventive examinations with a doctor.