How to Cope With Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis that strikes like a bolt from out of the blue. It’s excruciating by all accounts, throbbing pain often hits at night, turning the skin red hot and leaving the affected joint swollen and tender, and an attack often last several days. Once considered the domain of royalty, gout is caused by very plebeian uric acid, which we all have in our bloodstream. If you suffer from gout, either your system produces too much or you produce a normal amount of uric acid and excrete enough. Either way, the excess turns into tiny trouble making crystals that inflame your joints Often the big toe is the prime target of gout, but almost any joint can become a sore point. While anyone can fall prey to gout, the typical victim is a middle aged male, who may be overweight and may have a family history of the disease. If you’re a current, or potential, sufferer, heed the following advice from the experts.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• A comfortable bed
• Ibuprofen
• Crushed ice
• Water
• Herb teas

1. Get some rest. During an acute attack, keep the affected joint elevated and at rest. You shouldn’t have any trouble following this advice because the pain will be so intense. During this phase most patients can’t even bare the weight of a bed sheet on the tender joint.
2. Reach for ibuprofen. The tremendous amount of inflammation around the affected joint causes the pain felt by sufferers. When you need a painkiller make sure it’s one that can reduce inflammation, namely ibuprofen. Make sure to follow the instructions on the bottle and if these dosages don’t relieve the pain, seek a consultation with a physician before increasing them. Avoid aspirin or acetaminophen because these can actually make the gout worse by inhibiting excretion of uric acid and they don’t have enough inflammation fighting capability to do any good.
3. Apply ice to the area. If the affected joint is not too tender to touch, try applying a crushed ice pack. The ice will have a soothing, numbing effect, make sure to place the pack on the painful joint and leave it for about 10 minutes. You can cushion the pack with a towel or sponge and reapply as needed.
4. Avoid foods high in purine. Foods that are high in a substance called purine contribute to higher levels of uric acid, so avoiding such foods is prudent and smart if you’re a gout sufferer.
5. Foods most likely to induce gout contain anywhere from 150 to 1000 milligrams of purine in each 3 ½ ounce serving. They include high protein animal products such as anchovies, brains, consommé, gravy, heart, herring, kidney, liver, meat extracts, meat containing mincemeat, mussels, sardines, and sweetbreads.
6. Foods that may contribute to gout have a moderate amount of purines, from 50 to 150 milligrams in 3 ½ ounces. So, limiting them to one serving a day is necessary for those who suffer from severe cases of gout. Foods in this group include asparagus, dry beans, cauliflower, lentils, mushrooms, oatmeal, dry peas, shellfish, spinach, whole grain cereals, whole grain breads, and yeast.
   Fish, meat, and poultry are in the same category and should be limited to 3 ounce servings five days a week.
7. Drink more water than normal. Large amounts of fluid can help flush excess uric acid from your system before it can do any harm. Most people, let alone gout sufferers, don’t drink enough water, for best results drink in excess of five or six glasses a day. If you want something other than water, try herb teas, they’re free of both caffeine and calories, so large amounts won’t make you jittery or pile on unwanted pounds. Teas to try include sarsaparilla, yarrow (milfoil), rosehip, and peppermint, just brew them as usual and drink often.
8. Avoid alcohol consumption. If you have a history of gout, alcohol seems to increase uric acid production and inhibit its secretion, which can lead to gout attacks in some people. Beer may be particularly undesirable because it has higher purine content than wine or other spirits. If you like to drink wine occasionally, butter wine with readily absorbed carbohydrates such as crackers, fruit, and cheeses.
9. Control your blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure in addition to gout, you have double trouble. This is because certain drugs prescribed to lower blood pressure, like diuretics, actually raise uric acid levels, so taking steps to lower your blood pressure naturally would be wise. Try reducing sodium intake, losing excess weight, and exercising, but never discontinue any prescribed medication without consulting your physician.
10. Beware of fad diets. If you’re over weight, slimming down is absolutely imperative. Heavier people tend to have high uric acid levels. But stay away from fad diets, which are notorious for triggering gout attacks, such diets, including fasting, cause cells to break down and release uric acid. So work with your doctor to devise a gradual weight loss program.
11. Consult your physician before taking supplements or vitamins, because too much of certain nutrients can make gout worse. Excess niacin and vitamin A, in particular, may bring on an attack, so always consult a physician before increasing your vitamin intake.
12. Be careful about injuring yourself. For some unknown reason, gout often strikes a joint that’s been previously traumatized, so try not to stub your toe or otherwise hurt yourself, and don’t wear tight shoes, which can also predispose your joints to minor injury.

Tips & Warnings

• Although there is no hard scientific evidence that cherries help relieve gout, many people find them beneficial. It doesn't seem to matter whether they use sweet or sour varieties or whether the cherries are canned or fresh.
• Many physicians recommend charcoal poultices. Charcoal has the ability to draw toxins from the body. Mix 1/2 cup of powdered activated charcoal with a few tablespoons flaxseed (ground to a meal in a blender) and enough very warm water to make a paste. Apply to the affected joint. Cover with a cloth or plastic to hold in place. Change every 4 hours or leave on overnight . Charcoal produces stains, so be careful not to get any on clothes or bed lines.