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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Gout Crystals: How To Avoid Buildup

By Judith Allison

People with an overabundance of uric acid also known as gout suffer from symptoms such as pain in the joints, stiff and tight joints, and sometimes a lack of mobility in their joints. This medical condition arises when the body's levels of uric acid increase to unhealthy levels and gout crystals develop and harden around the joints.

Gout most commonly affects the big toe joints, but sometimes it also occurs in the joints of the fingers, the knee joints, the elbow joints and the joints of the ankles. When gout is not effectively treated, mobility can be lost in any joints that the gout crystals have formed around.

There are several techniques that allow the body's uric acid levels to be managed. Eating too many foods which have high purine levels, including red meats, some types of seafood and sweetbreads, can cause increased levels of uric acid in the body. Certain beverages that have a large amount of purine and caffeine, such as coffee, tea with caffeine and high caffeine sodas, can also cause flareups of gout.

These beverages include caffeinated teas, coffee and high caffeine drinks. Many times, if a person is in the early stages of gout, a change of diet can quickly relieve the pain and stiffness in the joints that are caused by the condition. Eliminating foods and beverages which are high in purines, along with drinking large quantities of water, can help to flush uric acid from your system. The gout symptoms will soon disappear.

If eliminating these foods from your diet does not make your gout symptoms go away, you may need to take certain medications that are specifically intended to dissolve gout crystals. NSAIDs are mild and may provide some relief, but frequently stronger medications are necessary.

These more intense drugs, such as colchicine or probenecid, have a much higher success rate and often dissolve all the uric acid crystals, making your gout symptoms disappear. Taking these drugs is basically the same as putting poison into your body, however, and many people who take them experience terrible side effects like nausea and vomiting. If you have any of these side effects it is essential that you notify your physician immediately. Depending on how bad your side effects are, your doctor may decide to prescribe a different drug.

Some patients who are being treated for gout crystals around their joints find that exercise gives them tremendous relief. By moving and flexing the area of the body affected by gout, crystals can be broken up and will dissolve more easily. It is also very important to drink lots of fluids during exercise to help uric acids to leave the body when you perspire from working out. If you can exercise regularly it can be a more natural way to keep uric acids levels down and prevent a recurrence of gout flareups.

You should also find out if your family members have any history of gout. You are more likely to develop gout if one of your parents or grandparents suffered from it. Be proactive about your gout; control your diet and cut back on foods that have high amounts of purines. Drink large amounts of water as this will help your system flush out the uric acid. You should also begin a regular workout to help enhance your flexibility and prevent gout crystals from forming. - 17273

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