What Causes Gout?

Many of you searching this page might be wondering how gout is caused.  I know that in my personal experience, I had no idea until a doctor told me.  Today's post will try to explain a bit of the causes of gout.  Again we'll explore the website of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website for some more information about this horrible condition.

What Causes Gout?
Gout is caused by the buildup of too much uric acid in the body. Uric acid comes from the breakdown of substances called purines. Purines are found in all of your body’s tissues. They are also in many foods, such as liver, dried beans and peas, and anchovies.
Normally, uric acid dissolves in the blood. It passes through the kidneys and out of the body in urine. But uric acid can build up in the blood when:

• The body increases the amount of uric acid it makes.

• The kidneys do not get rid of enough uric acid.

• A person eats too many foods high in purines.

When uric acid levels in the blood are high, it is called hyperuricemia. Most people with hyperuricemia do not develop gout. But if excess uric acid crystals form in the body, gout can develop.
You are more likely to have gout if you:

• Have family members with the disease

• Are a man

• Are overweight

• Drink too much alcohol

• Eat too many foods rich in purines

• Have an enzyme defect that makes it hard for the body to break down purines

• Are exposed to lead in the environment

• Have had an organ transplant

• Use some medicines such as diuretics, aspirin, cyclosporine, or levodopa

• Take the vitamin niacin. [1]

To sum up: gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid in your body which is caused by a compound called purines.  Many purines occur naturally in your body, but some are found in the foods you eat.  
When your blood gets too high of a concentration of these purines, they can crystallize and lead to gout. Emphasis on can because in some people this buildup does not affect them.  If you have gout today, you've unfortunately won the worst lottery ever.

 Do you have any questions or comments?  I want to be a help and resource to your questions.  If you leave a comment I will do my best to answer your question.

In our next post I will discuss how gout is diagnosed and my own personal account of how I learned I had gout.

**This website is for informative purposes and should not be substituted as advice of a medical professional.  If you believe you have gout, I STRONGLY recommend scheduling an appointment with a medical professional and getting the problem checked out.

[Source: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Gout/gout_ff.asp]