Page 98 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2025

HEALTHY LIVING
GOUT story by Dr. Nickie Harris-Ray
Did you have a good holiday? Did you see family, travel, get gifts, or eat too much? Do your joints hurt, and have you noticed that you move around much slower? Are your joints red, warm, or swollen? Well, the discomfort
UNDERSTANDING
you feel may be from gout – or, as some Southerners call it, “the gouch.”
Gout is a condition caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. It can lead to significant pain and disability. There are two types of gout. Primary Gout accounts for 85-90 percent of cases because of an enzyme deficiency, leading to either increased production or decreased excretion of uric acid. Secondary gout is caused by secondary conditions like leukemia or chronic renal disease, which can exacerbate uric acid levels.
There are some very prominent risk factors for gout, the key ones being increasing age, alcohol use, obesity, and thiazide diuretics, all of which can elevate gout risk. So basically, everything that happened between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day! Urate crystals form in the joint lining, causing inflammation due to the invasion of neutrophils. Though the risk factors can initiate a gouty flair, gout typically occurs after 20 to 30 years of having high uric acid levels.
Initial attacks often occur in the first metatarsophalangeal joint – your big toe. Pain can also affect the instep, ankle, and heel, necessitating prompt treatment. Gout progresses from unsymptomatic high uric acid levels to acute gouty arthritis and potentially to chronic tophaceous gout. These are small, firm lumps that can appear under the skin, especially around joints and in tissues. Joint aspiration, revealing needle-shaped crystals, confirms gout.
Regular physical activity and a balanced diet can help with weight management, lowering the chances of experiencing gout attacks. For treatment, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to relieve pain during flare-ups. Long-term management may include medications like allopurinol to lower uric acid levels. Speak with your healthcare provider for personalized advice and treatment options.
98 | January 2025 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
PREVENTING GOUT INVOLVES:
• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle by staying hydrated
• Limiting alcohol intake
• Limiting purine-rich foods like red meat and shellfish