You wake up in the middle of the night, and your big toe feels as if it's on fire. It's hot, swollen and so tender that even the weight of a sheet on it seems intolerable. These problems could indicate an acute attack of gout or gouty arthritis a form of arthritis that's characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness and tenderness in joints.
Gout (metabolic arthritis) is a disease created by a buildup of uric acid. In this condition, crystals of monosodium urate or uric acid are deposited on the articular cartilage of joints, tendons and surrounding tissues. These crystals cause inflammation and pain, both severe. If untreated, the crystals form tophi, which can cause significant tissue damage. Gout results from a combination of elevated concentrations of uric acid and overall acidity in the bloodstream. In isolation, neither elevated uric acid (hyperuricemia) nor acidity is normally sufficient to cause gout.
Gout is a condition that results from an overload of crystals of uric acid depositing in tissues of the body and features recurring attacks of joint inflammation (arthritis). Chronic gout can lead to deposits of hard lumps of uric acid in and around the joints, decreased kidney function, and kidney stones.
Gout has the unique distinction of being one of the most frequently recorded medical illnesses throughout history. It is often related to an inherited abnormality in the body's ability to process uric acid. Uric acid is a breakdown product of purines that are part of many foods we eat. An abnormality in handling uric acid can cause attacks of painful arthritis (gout attack), kidney stones, and blockage of the kidney filtering tubules with uric-acid crystals, leading to kidney failure. On the other hand, some patients may only develop elevated blood uric-acid levels (hyperuricemia) without having arthritis or kidney problems. The term "gout" commonly is used to refer to the painful arthritis attacks.
Gouty arthritis is usually an extremely painful attack with a rapid onset of joint inflammation. The joint inflammation is precipitated by deposits of uric acid crystals in the joint fluid (synovial fluid) and joint lining (synovial lining). Intense joint inflammation occurs as white blood cells engulf the uric acid crystals and release chemicals of inflammation, causing pain, heat, and redness of the joint tissues.
Gout is a complex disorder that can affect anyone. Men are more likely to get gout than women are, but women become increasingly susceptible to gout after menopause.
Fortunately, gout is treatable, and there are ways to reduce the risk that gout will recur.
Gout is a kind of arthritis. It can cause an attack of sudden burning pain, stiffness, and swelling in a joint, usually a big toe. These attacks can happen over and over unless gout is treated. Over time, they can harm your joints, tendons, and other tissues.
Gout is a condition characterized by an abnormal metabolism of uric acid. People with gout either produce too much uric acid, or more commonly, their bodies have a problem in removing it. There are a number of possible consequences of this buildup of uric acid in the body, including acute and chronic gouty arthritis, kidney stones, and deposits of uric acid (tophi) in the skin and other tissues. Gout may occur alone (primary gout) or may be associated with other medical conditions or medications (secondary gout).
Gouty arthritis is considered in people who have a sudden onset of a hot, red, swollen joint. It is diagnosed by detecting uric acid (monosodium urate) crystals in the joint fluid. These crystals can accumulate over the years in the joint and trigger repeated bouts of inflammation. Repeated "attacks" of gouty arthritis can damage the joint and lead to chronic arthritis. Fortunately, there are effective medications to treat gout.
Gout is a disorder that results from the build-up of uric acid in the tissues or a joint most often the joint of the big toe. An attack of gout can be miserable, marked by the following symptoms :
- Intense pain that comes on suddenly often in the middle of the night or upon arising.
- Redness, swelling, and warmth over the joint all of which are signs of inflammation.
