The Gout Sufferers Cheat Sheet: The New York Times Gout Report

Are you looking for comprehensive gout info?  Look no further than this in-depth report from the New York Times.  All of the scientific research on gout here is 10 years old or less.  No matter your political opinion on the New York Times, the information contained on this page comes from medical professionals whose jobs are assisting people like myself and some of you who are only seeking to improve your quality of life.  In the future on this site, I will be referencing this page quite a bit.

For today, I want to highlight a couple of interesting things I found reading this page my first time.  I'll come back to this page in the future, but for today:

Dietary Considerations

"While meat and certain types of seafood and shellfish do produce high levels of purines in the blood, research has suggested that not all purine-rich foods are associated with gout. Eating a moderate amount of purine-rich vegetables (spinach, cauliflower, mushrooms, legumes) does not appear to increase the risk of gout." [1]

Some people use a chart to determine their diet to avoid gout.  I am going to tackle diet at sometime or another on this blog, but for right now, allow me to turn off my serious gout blogger mode and say this:

(joke over)...As I chat with other gout sufferers I find more and more that the foods that trigger gout for some people don't trigger it for others.  Science seems to strongly suggest that the intake of purine-rich vegetables is okay.  I'd go as far to suggest to you that it's great to consume any vegetable you enjoy because promoting a healthy lifestyle could help you to:

Maintain a Healthy Weight

"A supervised weight-loss program may be a very effective way to reduce uric acid levels in overweight patients. Crash dieting, on the other hand, is counterproductive because it can increase uric acid levels and may cause an acute attack."[1]

Another reference to how gout is a tricky condition.  Do try to lose weight if you are a sufferer, but don't do it by going crazy with the weight loss-cause you could just trigger another attack.  So if the veggies aren't making your toe, ankle, knee, etc etc etc hurt eat 'em up!  Develop a healthier lifestyle to avoid the pain.

Finally...

I hope you'll take time to read through the report for yourself.  Educating yourself about the horribleness that is gout is one of the best ways to take preventative measures against that awful pain, and that report is a VERY good place to start.  

Do you have a helpful resource concerning gout?  Let me know in the comments section! 

**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.

[Sources: 1-http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/gout-chronic/print.html]

Why does my foot hurt so badly? Do I Have Gout?

How I wish this post existed for me back in September 2006 when I had my first attack.  I didn't even find out I had gout until early 2013.  That was near seven years of pain popping up at the worst times and near ruining my life.

Let's start with some simple advice that will go at the end of all future blog posts:  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.

A Website for a Good Start: What is Gout

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases has an informative page here that gives fast facts on the symptoms of gout.  Basic gout facts found on the linked site include: 

Gout is one of the most painful forms of arthritis. It occurs when too much uric acid builds up in the body. The buildup of uric acid can lead to:

• Sharp uric acid crystal deposits in joints, often in the big toe
• Deposits of uric acid (called tophi) that look like lumps under the skin
• Kidney stones from uric acid crystals in the kidneys.

For many people, the first attack of gout occurs in the big toe. Often, the attack wakes a person from sleep. The toe is very sore, red, warm, and swollen. 

Gout can cause:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Redness
• Heat
• Stiffness in joints.

In addition to the big toe, gout can affect the:

• Insteps
• Ankles
• Heels
• Knees
• Wrists
• Fingers
• Elbows.

A gout attack can be brought on by stressful events, alcohol or drugs, or another illness. Early attacks usually get better within 3 to 10 days, even without treatment. The next attack may not occur for months or even years. [1]

My personal recollection is that my first and certain other attacks of gout felt like some of the worst pain ever.

Ever had swelling in your foot, knees, elbows, or wrists and felt like it would hurt less if you cut off that body part?  I recommend seeing your doctor as you could very well have gout!

In future posts I'll explain some of the science behind this horrible condition, how a doctor diagnoses this condition, how to treat it, and the future of treatment.  

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