If your gout is acting up, I have a recommendation for you: Watch what you eat and drink.
Changes in diet, including overindulging in certain foods and beverages, can cause gout attacks any time of year.
Gout attacks are extremely painful. Symptoms include redness and swelling in joints. Attacks can come suddenly, often at night.
They happen when uric acid accumulates in the tissues or a joint and crystallizes. This most commonly occurs in the big toe joint because the toe is the coolest part of the body and uric acid is sensitive to temperature changes.
Your diet makes things worse. Foods high in purines that contribute to uric acid build-up are the biggest culprit. If you are prone to gout attacks, avoid purine-rich items such as shellfish (shrimp, crab, etc.), organ meats (kidney, liver, etc.), red meat, red wine, and beer.
Gout can be treated with medications, diet changes, increasing consumption of appropriate fluids, and immobilizing the foot. In some cases surgery is required to remove the uric acid crystals and repair the joint.
If you're tired of dealing with the pain of gout, Mendoza Podiatry can help. Just give us a call at 615.826.0941.