Management of Gout
Oct 6, 2017
About Gout
Gout is a form of joint inflammation due to excessive of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is a by-product of purine breakdown, which are highly found in red meat and sea food. Normally, our kidney can excrete the by-product through urine but the overburden may cause the uric acid to stay in the blood. This accumulation can form needle-like crystals in a joint and thus causing sudden, severe episodes of pain, redness, and swelling. Fortunately, gout is treatable and the reoccurrence risk is manageable by medication, supplementation, as well as dietary and lifestyle modification.
Medication
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and colchicine helps to relieve the pain and swelling of an acute gout attacks.
- Allopurinol and febuxostat reduce the amount of uric acid that our body makes.
- Probenecid improves the kidney ability to remove uric acid from our body.
Supplementation
BiO-LiFE Celery 3000 contains celery seeds which are beneficial for relieving joint pains and other inflammatory conditions. The diuretic effect of celery seeds can speed up the breakdown of crystallized uric acid at particular joints and flush away the excess uric acid from the body.
Diet Modification
Avoiding or limiting the following foods can reduce the chances of triggering a gout attack:
| Type of food | Examples |
| Meat | red meat, organ meats (liver and sweetbreads) |
| Fish | anchovies, herring, mackerel, sardines |
| Seafood | crab, shellfish, shrimp, lobster |
| Other | alcoholic beverages and drinks sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose) |
A small amount may be tolerable. Alternatively, replace one portion of meat or fish a day with other sources of protein, such as eggs, beans, or low-fat dairy products.
Lifestyle Modification
- Maintain body weight in a healthy range. Gradual weight loss (0.5 – 1.0 kg per week) will lessen the load on affected weight-bearing joints and decrease uric acid levels. Avoid fasting or rapid weight loss because doing so may temporarily raise uric acid levels.
- Drink plenty of water daily. Adequate fluid intake of 2-3 liters daily will dilute the urine and enhance the excretion of excess uric acid.
References
- Arthritis Foundation. Gout Treatment. Available from: http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/gout/treatment.php
- Arthritis Research UK. (2016). What treatments are there for gout? Available from: http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/conditions/gout/treatments.aspx
- Mayo Clinic. (2015). Diseases and Conditions: Gout. Available from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gout/basics/definition/con-20019400
