| Gout is an arthritis-based condition in which the | | | | follows and the affected area will be very hot. |
| body produces high levels of uric acid that forms | | | | Your joints will turn red and look as though you |
| crystals in the blood. These crystals travel | | | | are bruised. |
| through the body and are deposited in joints | | | | The intercritical stage is when the patient does |
| throughout the body, usually settling in the big | | | | not have gout attacks on a regular basis. The |
| toes, causing severe pain and swelling. An attack | | | | attack can be spread out between six months to |
| of gout usually lasts between five and ten days | | | | two years of each other. There are reported |
| and is excruciating. | | | | cases when an attack has not re-occurred for |
| Gout is almost always found in men who are | | | | ten years. |
| over the age of forty, but it can also occur in | | | | The chronic stage is perhaps the worse stage of |
| women who are in menopause. | | | | all. This is when joints are extremely painful |
| No one knows for certain what causes gout, | | | | because of large crystals that are not only |
| although some studies suggest that there are a | | | | deposited in the joints, but also in between the |
| number of different causes. There may be a | | | | bones, in membranes and soft tissue. |
| defect in the person's metabolism that causes the | | | | It is easy to recognize gout because the skin that |
| body to create and retain too much uric acid. | | | | is covering the crystal deposits develops ulcers |
| Another cause may be that the kidney is | | | | that leak. A lesser, but equally painful, symptom is |
| damaged to the point of preventing the disposal | | | | stiffness, leaving the patient unable to move the |
| of uric acid. | | | | areas that are affected. |
| If a person is being treated for high blood | | | | When diagnosing gout, your doctor will order blood |
| pressure, Thiazide diuretic medications may cause | | | | tests and x-rays. |
| an onset of gout. There are certain blood | | | | The blood tests are to determine the level of uric |
| diseases and cancers that may also get it started. | | | | acid that is in your blood and the x-rays are to |
| There are four stages in diagnosing gout. | | | | find where the crystal deposits are and to |
| Asymptomatic stage is when the uric acid in the | | | | determine what the extent of the damage is. |
| blood is extremely high, but there are no | | | | The treatment for Gout is different for each |
| symptoms of gout. No swelling and no pain. | | | | person. Usually it is treated through medication |
| The acute stage is when it is gout is most painful. | | | | and dietary changes. By following your doctor's |
| The pain starts in the joints as a dull ache and | | | | instructions, you can lessen the severity of each |
| quickly becomes excruciating. Swelling soon | | | | attack. |