Learn What Causes Gout Pain. Here, we will try our best to discuss What Causes Gout Pain in detail because the painful outbreaks of gout will avoid the awareness of the triggers.
Any joint can impact gout, a prevalent form of arthritis that most frequently affects the big toe. Periods of no symptoms and periods of symptoms are usual with gout. Flares or attacks are the terms used to describe when symptoms appear.
Gout flares often last one to two weeks and might include pain, edema, redness, and trouble moving the joint. A gout flare can bring on a variety of factors, including diet, drugs, and dehydration.
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What Causes Gout Pain
Typical Causes of Gout Flares
High bodily uric acid levels are what causes gout. Purines are substances that occur naturally in the body and some foods, and they are broken down by the body to produce uric acid. Additionally, urine is primarily used to break down and excrete uric acid. Excess uric acid forms needle-shaped crystals in the joints if it isn’t effectively eliminated, which leads to flare-ups of gout.
There are several factors that well-known gout flare-up causes. When attempting to prevent or manage gout pain, it’s crucial to be aware of the triggers because they can generally be avoided.
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Some Meat and Seafood: Causes Gout Pain
Numerous purine-rich meals can increase the body’s uric acid levels, which in turn raises the risk of gout attacks. Furthermore, foods containing more purine include:
- Beef, lamb, and pork are examples of red meat.
- Meat from the organs, such as the liver and kidney
A few types of seafood:
- Mussels
- Scallops
- Trout
- Tuna
- Sardines
However, not all purine-rich meals seem to increase uric acid levels or gout risk—purine-rich vegetables such as peas, beans, lentils, asparagus, and spinach. And mushrooms do not appear to increase the risk of gout when consumed in moderation.
Alcohol: Causes Gout Pain
It is well known that drinking beer, wine, and alcoholic beverages increases the blood’s uric acid levels. The likelihood of a gout attack increases with alcohol use.
However, one study discovered that even moderate alcohol use may put males at greater risk for gout attacks. Men who had up to two beers in 24 hours were 36% more likely to experience a gout flare than men who did not consume any alcohol during that time. On the other hand, consuming one drink over a day did not materially raise the risk.
Food and Drinks With a lot of Fructose
The only sugar that increases uric acid levels in the body is Fructose, a form of sugar. It has been demonstrated that beverages rich in Fructose, such as fruit juices and sweetened soft drinks, raise blood uric acid levels.
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Fructose-rich meals like cookies and candies have also been connected to a higher risk of gout flare-ups. These high-sugar foods and beverages should be avoided or consumed in moderation to help lower the risk of a gout attack.
Having a higher BMI
The early stages of gout are correlated with being obese or overweight. A greater body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased uric acid levels. Even if you’ve already acquired gout, the relationship may still be important.
If your BMI falls into the overweight or obese range, lowering your uric acid levels and preventing further flares may be possible through diet and exercise.
Unexpected Causes of Gout
While some foods, beverages, and lifestyle choices are well-known gout triggers, additional gout triggers should also be considered.
Stress
Research indicates that stress may raise blood levels of uric acid, while the precise link is yet unknown. Researchers advise persons with gout to attempt to minimize stress or take measures to lessen stress to prevent gout flare-ups.
Aspirin
Low-dose aspirin can raise blood levels of uric acid and, in some instances, almost quadruple the risk of gout flare-ups. According to one study, consuming low-dose aspirin for two days doubles the chance of a gout attack. The strength of the relationship increases with smaller doses.
However, aspirin taken at modest doses is frequently used to stave against heart disease. Therefore, if you use low-dose aspirin to ward against heart attack or stroke, it is not advised that you stop taking it or modify how you use it, despite the possibility that it might cause gout flare-ups. Instead, you should address any other gout triggers you may have, such as alcohol and red meat intake.
Dehydration
Due to a reduction in urine and the subsequent removal of uric acid, dehydration can cause increased levels of uric acid.
People with gout should regularly consume a lot of water to reduce their chances of experiencing an episode. It’s crucial to drink more water when going out or being in hotter conditions, like a sauna.
Temperature Variations
The weather might impact gout. Low humidity and high temperatures both raise the possibility of a gout attack. A gout flare-up might be further exacerbated by hot, dry weather. However, to a lesser extent, extremely high humidity can also raise the risk of gout flare-ups.
Although the precise cause of the correlations is still unclear, one view holds that dehydration may be involved. When in hot or dry conditions, people with gout should keep hydrated to attempt to avoid weather-related gout flare-ups.
Summary of the discussion above
To assist in lowering the chance of a gout flare, common triggers, including red meat, alcohol, and high-sugar beverages, should be reduced or avoided. When determining how to stop and control fits, other gout causes like aspirin, stress, or the environment should also be taken into account.
Not every trigger will cause gout in every person. Make a note of the foods you eat or the activities you engaged in before your gout attack to understand the things that set it off for you. You might be able to see a trend in your gout flares by maintaining a log of these things.
A healthcare professional might also assist you in determining triggers and flare-up prevention in the future. Consult your doctor if you are having a flare-up to learn about your treatment choices, which may include painkillers like ibuprofen (Advil) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen.
