Gout Treatments
Looking for information on treatment for gout ? This article provides some valuable information about the various methods of treating gout.
Gout is one of the most common types of arthritis, caused by disorder in the uric acid metabolism of the body. It is characterized by high blood uric acid level and deposition of Monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the joints and surrounding tissues. Gout mostly affects the big toe, but may also affect other parts of the body. Uric acid, formed after breaking down of purine, normally dissolves in blood, passes through the kidney and finally, is excreted in the urine.
Gout is caused due to either overproduction of uric acid that kidneys can’t filter or the kidneys are not efficient enough to filter uric acid. Thus, resulting in hyperuricemia. In course of time, urate crystals are built up in the synovial fluid of the joints and subsequently, deposited in the tissues of the joints. Patients suffering from gout experience unexpected, burning joint pain, as well as swelling, redness and stiffness in the affected area.
Diagnosis of gout is difficult since the symptoms are vague. Usually, gout is diagnosed by physical examination, medical history and by running certain diagnosis tests. Studies have confirmed that occurrence of gout is more common in males than females.
Gout Treatments
Gout may be caused due to various reasons such as genetic factors (family history of gout), use of certain drugs (e.g. diuretics, cyclosporine, aspirin etc.), organ transplant, obesity, lead exposure, thyroid problems and eating habits (overconsumption of protein-rich foods and alcoholic beverages). Whatever the reason, gout should be treated as early as possible. Treatment of gout is done by taking medication, eating low purine diets and regular exercise. Let’s see some of the important treatment methods for gout.
Medication Treatments for Gout
Treatment of gout includes taking medication along with other treatment methods. Though chemical medication is used in the treatment of gout, certain objections arise due to unavoidable side effects in the long run. Let’s see some of the commonly prescribed drugs, which are used for the treatment of gout.
Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): These are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for gout treatment. There are many effective drugs such as indomethacin (Indocin), which was the first NSAID used for gout treatment and is also one of the preferable choices of physicians for lessening inflammation. Initially, patients are treated with high doses and subsequently, lower doses are prescribed as the pain subsides. Usually, the treatment lasts for about 48 hours. NSAIDs should not be recommended for patients with peptic ulcer and liver problems. Prolonged use of NSAIDs has certain side effects, however, short-term use is not harmful.
Colchicine: Colchicine is one of the oldest treatments of gout. It is used for treatment of acute attacks of gout and also, to prevent recurrent attacks. It should be taken within 12 hours after gout attack. There are two ways of colchicine treatment - short term and long term. In the short-term treatment, the patient takes a higher dose of colchicine for a shorter duration, whereas in the long-term treatment, the patient is prescribed a lower dose over a longer duration. Side effects of this drug include gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other stomach problems.
Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids or adrenocorticotropic hormone is recommended for those gout patients, who can’t take NSAIDs or colchicine. Patients with stomach ulcer problems can’t take anti-inflammatory drugs and for them, physicians may recommend corticosteroid medication. Usually, these steroids are administered intravenously, intra-articularly, intramuscularly and also orally.
Home Remedies for Gout
Another treatment method is consumption of low purine diets. One can include fruits, dark cherries (it has chemicals that reduce inflammation), honey, garlic and lots of green leafy vegetables. Seafoods should be avoided, as they are rich source of purine. A gout patient should also avoid alcoholic beverages that are prepared by yeast fermentation. Patients of gout should drink plenty of water in order to help the body in flushing out excess uric acid. There are certain diets for gout patients, which will help in treatment of gout.
Treatment of gout may differ from patient to patient depending upon the disease severity and medical history of the patient. Permanent cure of gout is not available till today. However, the main objective behind gout treatment is to lessen the pain in an acute attack, lessen the duration of an attack, prevent from future attacks and avoid other complications such as kidney stones and joint destruction. If the condition of gout remains untreated, there is increased risk of developing of high blood pressure, formation of tophi (causes tissue damage), deformed joints, and even death from kidney failure. It is always recommended to consult your physician or a qualified gout specialist before following any gout treatment.
| By Ningthoujam Sandhyarani |
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