Gout, A Painful Form Of Arthritis, Becoming More Common

Gout, A Painful Form Of Arthritis, Becoming More Common

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Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers recently reported that an increasing number of Americans are suffering from the form of arthritis known as gout." The researches also determined that the growing incidents of gout result from the increasing number of Americans with obesity and high blood pressure issues.

The study was recently published in the research journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, the journal of the American College of Rheumatology. The scientists concluded that since the early 1990s, overall rates of gout have increased from approximately 1% of the adult population to just under 4% of American adults. Three times more men than women suffer from the condition.

Once known as the disease of kings or rich mans disease, the condition that sounds like it should have gone out of vogue around the time of the revolutionary war still affects us today. Gout, a painful form of arthritis, causes the joints to become inflamed and swell. Gout most often affects the big toe, but it also affects other joints in the limbs: hands, wrists, knees, feet, and ankles.

Gout results from the build up of uric acid crystals in joints. Uric acid are created when the body process chemicals known as purines, which are found in high concentrations in some seafood like anchovies, mackerel, and herring, organ meats, and mushrooms. Also, other factors can speed up the body's production of uric acid. Obesity and high blood pressure are often to blame. Diabetes, some medications, and heavy drinking can also negatively impact gout sufferers.

Factors that boost the body's production of uric acid, or slow the removal of it, also raise the risk of gout. In particular, many blood pressure medicines (thiazide diuretics) can have a significant impact on gout.

The bottom line is that a bad diet can negatively impact gout sufferers. As an example, the researchers looked at data from a study of 80,000 women conducted between 1984 and 2006. The women that drank the highest quantities of sugary drinks (for example, sodas and juices) were much more likely to get gout than women who drank the small amounts of the same drinks.

Consequently, one way to control gout is to improve your diet. Reduce the amount of consumed sugar, and limit food and drink that aggravates gout. Generally, avoid meats (especially those types that contain a lot of purines), reduce liquor consumption (especially beer), and eat more fruits and vegetables. Finally, drink a lot of fluids, primarily water. A good diet is a good start at arthritis treatment for gout

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You don't need to suffer from arthritis pain. Learn about available alternatives for arthritis treatment and osteoarthritis treatment.



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