Gout - a form of arthritis, which is characterized by the deposition in the body of the crystal monourata sodium. Usually, gout causes a sharp and severe pain in the joints, which can have a negative impact on quality of life.

Gout is more common among men than among women. This is due mainly to the fact that the female hormone estrogen lowers levels of uric acid in the body. However, after menopause, when estrogen levels are reduced, the concentration of uric acid increases, and some women increases the likelihood of developing gout. The first symptoms of the disease appear, on average, after 30 years in men and over 60 years in women.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of gout - a sudden and severe pain in one or more joints, most often - in the big toe. The pain of gout is very strong; Some women say that the disease is no less painful than childbirth. Often the symptoms appear during the night, but in general, it can occur at any time of the day.

Other symptoms of gout:

• The inflammation of the affected joint;
• Reddish, shiny skin over the affected joint;
• Flaking and itching of the skin over the affected joint, appearing when the inflammation begins to subside.

Because of the pain of gout patients may be difficult to walk and perform daily activities. Even slight pressure blankets or clothes on the affected joint can be extremely painful.

70% of patients during the first attack of gout feel pain in the joint of the big toe. Most patients with gout eventually starts to hurt the joint. However, the disease can affect other joints, such as elbow, finger joints, wrists, legs, and so forth.

It is almost impossible to tell in advance when there will be an attack of gout. The attack develops rapidly, within a few hours, and typically lasts between three to ten days. Thereafter, the symptoms disappear for some time. In 62% of patients with gout attack happens in the next one year. The frequency of attacks is very different: some people they occur once every few weeks and months, others - only a few attacks in a lifetime.

If gout is suspected, contact your doctor. He not only can diagnose and treat the disease, but also to eliminate a number of more serious disorders that can cause similar symptoms.

Seek medical help if the symptoms described above are accompanied by increased body temperature (over 38C) - this may indicate septic arthritis, a dangerous disorder in which the infection develops within the joint.

Causes

The development of gout is associated with elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid - a waste product that results from the decomposition of purines. Most uric acid excreted through the kidneys, and a small part of it - through the digestive system. If the body is formed too much uric acid, or if it is displayed in large enough quantities, its concentration in the blood, and this may eventually lead to the formation of microscopic crystals. This usually occurs in the joints or in the surrounding tissues. When these crystals fall into the joint cavity, they become triggers a reaction that leads to pain and inflammation characteristic of gout.

Risk factors

Factors that increase the likelihood of developing gout include:

• Some medications, such as diuretics and niacin;
• Gender - men suffer from gout more often than women;
• Power - to an increased concentration of uric acid in the blood Uric acid in the blood - a dangerous condition   It may cause the consumption of foods rich in purines such as beef, pork, lamb, seafood, liver, kidneys;
• Alcohol - drinking alcohol leads to the fact that the body produces more uric acid, and displays it in smaller amounts than usual. Most of the risk of developing gout increases beer, as it not only affects the production of uric acid, but has a rather high in purines;
• Sweet drinks - studies have shown that there is some link between the development of gout, and some use of sugary drinks. In particular, according to one study, men who regularly consumed drinks with high fructose was an increased risk of gout. Dietary drinks with low sugar content, apparently did not increase the likelihood of gout;
• Family history - is that a predisposition to the development of gout is inherited. Approximately one-fifth of patients with gout have close relatives who also suffer from this disease;
• Diseases. The likelihood of developing gout increased diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease and high cholesterol Cholesterin .

Treatment

The primary goals of treatment is to relieve symptoms of gout attack and prevent attacks in the future.

Funds for pain relief during an attack:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac Diclofenac , Indomethacin or naproxen. These drugs are recommended during the attack, and within 48 hours after it. For the prevention of gastric ulcers NSAID administered in combination with drugs from the group of proton pump inhibitors;
• Colchicine can be assigned if the patient for any reason you can not take NSAIDs, or if they were not sufficiently effective. This medication relieves pain and reduces inflammation caused by gout. It is very effective, but it must be taken in small doses, as colchicine can cause a number of side effects, including - nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In addition, colchicine high doses can lead to disturbances in the intestines;
• Corticosteroids. Short-term use of corticosteroids can cause significant relief of symptoms of gout, but long-term use of these drugs can cause side effects such as weight gain, osteoporosis, bruising, muscle weakness, skin thinning and an increased likelihood of developing certain diseases.

Means to prevent gout attacks:

• Allopurinol. This drug reduces the production of uric acid, thereby reducing the likelihood of recurrent attacks of gout. However, if the attack is still to begin, allopurinol could not ease his symptoms. The drug is taken once a day, usually for one or two years. During this time, uric acid crystals are dissolved, and new gout attacks will not. Thereafter, the drug must be taken during the whole life, but may be at lower doses;
• Febuxostat also acts as allopurinol, but unlike the latter, febuxostat cleaved by the liver and not the kidney, so its normally prescribed for patients who have kidney disease.