Gout is a disease involving uric acid deposits in the joints of the big toe, heels, ankles and knees. This disorder causes acute pain. Chronic gout involves repeated episodes of joint pain. This article can help you identify some of the signs and symptoms associated with the disease.
Instructions
Identify Chronic Gout
1. Pain:Joint pain frequently starts during the night and is often described as terrible, excruciating and throbbing. The pain tends to go away within several days but Chronic gout attacks can last much longer.
2. Swelling and Redness: The affected area which is usually in the joints of the feet and leg but can also be in the elbow and knuckles shows signs of warmth, redness and extreme tenderness.
3. Possible causes: Gout is caused by an overproduction of uric acid or a reduced ability of the kidney to get rid of uric acid. It is more common in males, post menopausal women and people with high blood pressure. Heavy alcohol use, diabetes, obesity, sickle cell anemia and kidney disease also increase the risk. Some factors such as acute illness, trauma, surgery and diuretics have been recognized as precipitants of acute attacks of gout.
4. Complications: Longer term chronic gout can lead to kidney stones, kidney failure, joint deformities and loss of mobility.
5. Medical Help: A doctor will direct his care toward the management of acute attacks and the prevention of further attacks and complications of chronic gout. Urate lowering drugs may be prescribed and in the case of chronic gout medical therapy usually implies life-long treatment. Also anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed.
Tags: uric acid, acute attacks, chronic gout, Chronic gout, drugs prescribed, Identify Chronic