Gout Attack
Do You Think You’re Having A Gout Attack?
A gout attack is a very painful thing to experience, and where there is one, there are assuredly more to come. Gout attack is actually a specialized form of arthritis, and it is unmistakable when it occurs. Most people will feel the first signs of this excruciating condition during the night time hours, when the blood flow to our extremities is at its lowest, resting state. Also, you are most likely to feel these symptoms in the large knuckle joint of your big toe first, though this is not always the case. Gout attack can affect the wrists, fingers, ankles, and knees as well. The causes of gout are pretty straight forward, and they will be discussed shortly.
Gout attack tends to hit suddenly, with no dull pain or stiffness to warn of its presence. The joint will suddenly feel stabbed with sharp pain, it will swell, and skin redness is almost always present. The tenderness of the area can make even the brushing of a feather across it unbearable. This can be a big problem for those who need to stand and wear shoes all day long for work, as shoes can be one of the worst things that you can do for your gout. If you are experiencing a gout attack you will certainly want to contact your physician as soon as possible. There are treatments and medications that can help to subside and manage this condition, and the sooner the better.
It is far more common for men to experience gout attack than it is for women. The reason for this is simple: men have higher levels of uric acid in their bodies. There are other nutritional and circulatory issues which can heavily contribute to the formation of gout crystals in joints. After menopause, the female body begins to produce nearly as much uric acid as the male body does, so women will be more prone as they age, whereas the male body is likely to experience this painful condition at an earlier age.
The use of alcohol on a regular basis can contribute heavily to the formation of uric crystals in the joints, and gout attack happens with astute drinkers more often than in those who drink moderately to never. The consumption of red meat in high levels will also contribute to the excessiveness of uric acid, as will high amounts of fat in the blood stream and preexisting medical conditions such as collapsing or thinning arteries. The uric acid that is not properly flushed through the kidneys and out of the body will form sharp, hardened crystals in joints and organs, and this is what causes gout attack.