Gout Causes

Gout causes inflammation and intense pain for people who have this ailment. Gout is one of the most painful types of arthritis. It is a medical condition that occurs when the blood contains high levels of uric acid. In order to understand the causes of gout, it's helpful to have a simple working knowledge about uric acid and purines.

The body naturally produces uric acid when it processes, or breaks down, purines. Purines are natural substances found in all of the body's cells. Virtually all food sources contain purines as well. Protein sources such organ meats; certain fish and yeast contain higher levels of purines than other plant and animal food sources.

When purines are broken down naturally, uric acid is formed. It will pass through the kidneys and into the urine. However, in the case the kidneys are unable to excrete the normal amount of uric acid, the levels of uric acid build up abnormally in the body. As a result, urate crystals form and collect around the joints. Urate crystals are needle-like and sharp. They literally 'poke' the joint and the tissue surrounding the joint, which causes inflammation, pain and swelling. Gout causes deposits of uric acid to build up in and around the joints for some people as well, creating hard lumps in those areas.

There are risk factors linked to the causes of gout. This means that you are more likely to develop gout if the following factors are true for you.

· Heredity - gout is hereditary. If other family members have developed gout, there is a higher risk within that family.
· Alcohol - when men drink more than two drinks daily and women drink more than one daily, it increases the risk of developing gout.
· Obesity - children who are obese and adults who carry extra weight are at a higher risk.
· Sex - men are more likely to have gout due to higher uric acid levels in the body. However, following menopause, women's bodies produce more uric acid and are at a higher risk of getting gout.
· Age - Men between the ages of 40 and 50 are at the age when gout seems to occur the most often. The age for women varies, depending on when menopause occurs.
· Medical conditions - There are certain diseases that increase the possibility of gout developing. These include diabetes, high cholesterol, leukemia, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, and hyperuricemia.
· Medications - some medicines used to treat the diseases mentioned above, (and others), can sometimes increase uric acid levels in the body, which could lead to gout.

Other triggers for those at high risk of developing gout that could result in a gout attack are dehydration, severe injury to a joint, a fever, overeating consistently, and sometimes surgery. In some cases, gout causes are linked to only a few of the risk factors. For some people, gout attacks suddenly and seemingly without cause. Interestingly, not everyone with high levels of uric acid in the blood develops gout.

Gout causes severe joint stiffness and pain. Gout can affect manual dexterity and mobility for those who suffer from this condition. There is no permanent cure for gout. However, the good news is that there are several steps that can be taken to effectively manage gout symptoms. Gout causes vary from patient to patient, but your physician will be able to recommend the best treatment for your specific symptoms.