Gout used to be the poetic name of “the disease of the kings." This disease in the Middle Ages often suffered from rich people of noble origin - lords, counts and dukes, in the diet of which fatty meat prevailed.
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What is this disease - a description
Gout is a disease that occurs due to a malfunction in protein metabolism and an increase in uric acid. This is an inflammation of the joints with a sudden acute pain in the first toe. The finger turns red, and the patient cannot even step on his foot. Attacks most often happen suddenly - in the evening or at night.
The risk group includes the following categories of the population:
- men aged 35 to 50 years;
- persons abusing alcohol, meat, sweets;
- overweight people;
- patients taking certain diuretic and antitumor drugs;
- injured due to injuries.
Gout in women occurs only after menopause, since before menopause, estrogens positively affect the excretion of uric acid. Gout in men happens several times more often.
Also, the hereditary predisposition, severe hypothermia and the presence of various chronic kidney diseases play an important role.
Gout Flow Forms
There are three types of illness:
- Metabolic. The kidneys work fine, but for some reason, too much uric acid simply accumulates in the body.
- Renal. The acid content is low, but due to malfunctioning of the kidneys, it remains in the body.
- Mixed.
Gout development takes place in 4 stages:
- hidden;
- acute gouty arthritis;
- intercritical stage;
- chronic course (with salt deposits).
From the first attack to the chronic phase, 1-2 years or several tens of years can pass. The chronic form of the disease provokes the development of various complications.
Causes of the disease
The main reason is increased levels of uric acid in the blood. For a long time, it is deposited in the joints and on the internal organs in the form of small crystals - urates. As a result, inflammation begins. Due to the large accumulation of toxic substances, joints begin to break down.
Excess uric acid is possible for the following reasons:
- Increased output. The kidneys simply do not have time to timely bring it out.
- Disorders in the work of the kidneys. They can not bring out even a small amount of salts.
In recent years, the number of patients has been constantly increasing. This is facilitated by excessive consumption of fatty foods, alcohol addiction, obesity and a lack of calcium and ascorbic acid in the body.
Signs and symptoms of gout
The disease manifests itself differently depending on the course.
Symptoms of an acute attack:
- sudden joint pain for a long time;
- increased heart rate;
- severe swelling of the affected area;
- chills;
- local or general increase in temperature;
- redness of the affected area;
- increased sweating.
The exacerbation period, as a rule, does not last long. The second attack can be repeated after 3-4 months or even years.
Symptoms of chronic gout:
- damage to the joints, kidneys;
- the occurrence of gouty nodes;
- stiffness
- crunch in the joints and loss of their functions;
- prolonged intense pain.
Accumulating in the skin on the arms and legs, salts form nodules, growths or cones - tofus. They also occur on the auricles, forehead, near the cartilaginous septum of the nose. After the nodules burst, whitish crystals of uric acid are clearly visible in them. The body perceives these neoplasms as a foreign body and begins the struggle. Due to the increase in the number of leukocytes, the inflammatory process begins.
The chronic form never proceeds alone. Other diseases always accompany it: renal failure, cystitis, urolithiasis.
Gout Treatment
The symptoms and treatment of gout are closely related. Treatment is always prescribed only by a doctor after a comprehensive examination of the patient. These are examination and questioning of the patient, biochemical analysis of blood and urine, joint puncture, x-ray diagnostics, computed tomography, ultrasound of the joints.
The principles of drug treatment
Even modern drugs do not cure the disease, but with their help it is possible to alleviate acute attacks and stop the further progression of the disease. All therapy is aimed at lowering the amount of uric acid in the blood and eliminating inflammation.
Drugs used in the treatment of:
- Analogs of hypoxanthine. Inhibit the enzymes involved in the formation of uric acid. Reduce the concentration of this substance, stopping the inflammatory process. Prohibited for persons with severe kidney disease.
- Colchicine-based medicines. Prevents the formation of crystals, quickly stops attacks. But it has many side effects.
- Glucocorticoids. Quickly eliminate inflammation. Apply in short courses, due to the wide range of adverse reactions.
In addition, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used in therapy.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapeutic methods are also considered effective. The affected areas are affected by artificial factors: laser, light, ultrasound, ultraviolet, electric current, magnetic radiation.
These procedures do not cause side effects, but bring significant relief to the patient.
The patient must remember that it is impossible to expose the diseased joints to stress. But at least 0.5-1 hours per day should be devoted to walking, cycling, swimming.
Gout surgery
Surgery is a radical method. Such operations are done in foreign clinics in Israel and Germany, removing growths. This method is indicated for those people who suffer greatly from pain and deformed parts of the body. Often tofus on their joints grow to terrifying sizes. If the growths are not associated with tendons and joints, they can be removed completely without difficulty. But when they greatly destroyed the neighboring ones and literally grew into tendons and bones, a considerable part of them nevertheless remains.
In some clinics, special equipment also purifies the blood. Such treatment is expensive, and no one gives a guarantee that tumors will not appear again. Even after the removal of tofus, the patient should constantly take medication, eat right and engage in light sports to prevent repeated attacks.
The use of folk remedies at home
If a gout attack suddenly occurs, the patient needs to be laid down, provided with complete rest, a cold compress applied to the inflamed joint, take pain medication and contact a doctor.
Alternative methods help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
It:
- compresses of white cabbage;
- lotions from a decoction of chamomile pharmacy;
- reception infusion of fir cones.
Pour the young still unopened cone 400 ml of boiling water and leave for 10-12 hours. Drink the resulting infusion the next day, dividing it three times, 30 minutes before eating.
Knowing how to treat gout at home, you can alleviate the condition, and in a short time to restore efficiency.
Diet features
The patient must strictly adhere to the diet prescribed by the doctor. This is the most effective treatment method. Drinking regime is obligatory: at least 2.5-3 liters of clean drinking water should be drunk per day. The kidneys simply can not cope with the removal of salts, if you do not provide the body with fluid. It is especially useful to drink special alkaline waters (Essentuki, Borjomi).
The number of meals should be at least 5, but in small portions. In between you need to drink a lot.
The diet for gout is strict.
Allowed Food:
- bran bread;
- vegetable first courses;
- rabbit, turkey, chicken, low-fat fish - 1 time in 3-5 days;
- seafood;
- vegetable salads;
- low-fat dairy products;
- cereals;
- honey, marmalade;
- vegetables and herbs (except cauliflower, tomatoes, sorrel, rhubarb, spinach, legumes);
- berries and fruits (except lingonberries, cranberries, raspberries, figs).
Of the drinks, you can lightly brewed tea with lemon, water with honey, decoctions of medicinal plants.
The following foods should not be eaten:
- canned meat and fish;
- meat offal;
- meat broths;
- mushrooms;
- legumes;
- sweets;
- fat;
- Cheeses
- spices, spices, hot sauces and seasonings;
- yeast pastries;
- alcohol.
All these products contain “harmful” purines in abundance - substances whose final product is uric acid.
Complications of the disease
Complications of gout are serious:
- acute or chronic renal failure;
- urolithiasis disease;
- pyelonephritis;
- hydronephrosis;
- arterial hypertension.
Therefore, you need to monitor the course of the disease especially carefully.
Gout Prevention
An important role is played by heredity.Therefore, people in the family who had patients with gout need to constantly check the level of uric acid in crocks, maintain their weight at least at the maximum permissible norms, eat right.
Persons who already had an acute attack of gout should adhere to these rules:
- Establish nutrition. The diet should at the maximum include whole grains, dairy products (low-fat), vegetables, cereals.
- Do not starve in order to lose weight. This can trigger an exacerbation.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Tight shoes and boots injure the toes.
- Avoid overcooling and overheating.
Gout - the disease is incurable, but if all the recommendations of the doctor are followed, the patient can lead a practically normal and full life.
