- Gout is an intensely painful condition that mostly affects men. It is caused by the buildup of uric acid within the body and can result in extreme joint pain that leads to elongated swelling and permanent joint disfiguration. Although gout usually doesn't develop in women, it is important to be aware of the signs in order to seek treatment before the condition worsens.
- Everybody has a bit of uric acid in their blood, but when there is too much uric acid running through the bloodstream, it interferes with joint functions. The liquid that the body produces to lubricate joint movement is called synovial fluid. This fluid is necessary so that our joints operate smoothly and so that repeated usage of joints does not wear away the bones involved.
- Gout happens when the excess uric acid in the blood crystallizes into needle-like shapes within the synovial fluid. The immune system, sensing that the uric acid crystals do not belong in the synovial fluid, tries to purge the foreign objects. The immune system attacking the uric acid causes swelling to occur. As this swelling worsens, painful arthritis develops within the afflicted joint. This arthritis causes almost unbearable pain whenever the joint in question is used--even in the most natural of movements.
- For whatever reason, the vast majority of gout cases occur in the metatarsophalangeal joint, which is the anatomical term for the joint at the base of the big toe. While the majority of people who suffer gout will have pain in this joint, there have been cases of pain throughout the mid-foot, ankle, heel and knee. Other afflicted joints may include the fingers, wrists and elbows.
- Gout is often associated with the kidney because it is the organ that is responsible for filtering out excess levels of uric acid from the blood. Cases of gout can be indicators that the kidneys are not working as well as they should in filtering out the uric acid. Although the cause of this is mostly genetic, certain types of drugs can damage the kidney's ability to remove uric acid from the blood.
- Risk factors for gout include previous unrelated kidney problems, high levels of certain substances within the body such as triglycerides, high blood pressure and obesity. It is also important to understand that high levels of uric acid within the blood stream do not always cause gout and do not always signify damage to the kidneys.
