Q: Q: How do I relieve gout pain or treat gout naturally without medications?

A: Medications are often the most effective way to: Treat and manage gout . Prevent flare-ups that can lead to long-lasting damage. Lower your overall uric acid levels . If you would like to manage gout without medications, you can consider implementing the following changes at home: Diet Aim for a low-purine diet by limiting or avoiding alcohol, red meat, organ meats, seafood and high-fructose foods. Some studies indicate that cherry juice, as well as vitamin C, have a role to play in decreasing the production of uric acid. Massage Massage can help to stimulate metabolism, improve blood circulation to damaged joints and inflamed muscles, and reduce pain. Depending on the severity of your condition, pain relief may be quick or require multiple massages. Exercise In general, regular exercise like walking is beneficial for gout as it helps to support a healthy weight. A healthy weight is an important factor in gout prevention. However, if you are having a gout flare in the foot, toe, ankle or knee, it is best to rest until the gout episode resolves before using the affected body part.

Q: Q: How can I prevent gout? Can exercise prevent gout?

A: Gout flare-ups can be prevented and controlled through: Diet. A diet low in purines can lower the risk of a flare-up. Avoid or limit alcohol, red meat, organ meats, seafood and high-fructose foods. Medications. Medications can help to reduce the risk of a flare by lowering the levels of uric acid in your body, supporting the removal of uric acid and reducing inflammation that may trigger an attack. Exercise. Regular exercise is an important lifestyle intervention for gout. Exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk of gout. However, if you experience a flare-up, it is best to avoid exercise and rest the affected joint.

Q: Q: Can certain gout medications cause acute gout?

A: Gout medication does not cause acute gout . These drugs are prescribed to treat gout by lowering levels of uric acid in the blood. You should not stop taking gout medication during an acute flare of gout as it can affect the efficiency of treatment. It is important to comply with your prescribed medication regime and take your medications regularly to prevent future gout flare-ups.

Q: Q: How common is gout?

A: Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis . It is most common in men aged 30 and above and the incidence increases with age. Gout can also: Affect women , although the incidence is lower until women reach menopause . Run in families .

Question 1

Q: How do I relieve gout pain or treat gout naturally without medications?

Accepted Answer

A: Medications are often the most effective way to:

Treat and manage gout.
Prevent flare-ups that can lead to long-lasting damage.
Lower your overall uric acid levels.

If you would like to manage gout without medications, you can consider implementing the following changes at home:

Diet

Aim for a low-purine diet by limiting or avoiding alcohol, red meat, organ meats, seafood and high-fructose foods. Some studies indicate that cherry juice, as well as vitamin C, have a role to play in decreasing the production of uric acid.

Massage

Massage can help to stimulate metabolism, improve blood circulation to damaged joints and inflamed muscles, and reduce pain. Depending on the severity of your condition, pain relief may be quick or require multiple massages.

Exercise

In general, regular exercise like walking is beneficial for gout as it helps to support a healthy weight. A healthy weight is an important factor in gout prevention.

However, if you are having a gout flare in the foot, toe, ankle or knee, it is best to rest until the gout episode resolves before using the affected body part.

Question 2

Q: What foods or activities should I avoid with gout?

Accepted Answer

A:  If you have  gout , you should avoid foods that are high in purines. This includes alcohol, red meat, organ meats, seafood and high-fructose foods.  Regular exercise like walking can help to improve gout, as it helps to support a healthy weight – an important factor in gout prevention. However, if you are having a gout flare in the foot, toe, ankle or knee, it is best to rest until the gout episode resolves before using the affected body part.

Question 3

Q: How can I prevent gout? Can exercise prevent gout?

Accepted Answer

A: Gout flare-ups can be prevented and controlled through:

Diet. A diet low in purines can lower the risk of a flare-up. Avoid or limit alcohol, red meat, organ meats, seafood and high-fructose foods.
Medications. Medications can help to reduce the risk of a flare by lowering the levels of uric acid in your body, supporting the removal of uric acid and reducing inflammation that may trigger an attack.
Exercise. Regular exercise is an important lifestyle intervention for gout. Exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk of gout. However, if you experience a flare-up, it is best to avoid exercise and rest the affected joint.

Question 4

Q: Does gout affect your heel?

Accepted Answer

A: Yes, gout can affect your heel. Other areas it commonly affects include the big toe, foot, ankle, instep and knee.

Less commonly, it may affect joints of the upper limbs such as the fingers or wrists.

Question 5

Q: How can I lessen gout pain?

Accepted Answer

A: If you experience a gout flare-up, you may lessen the pain by:

Taking pain medication and anti-inflammatory medications prescribed by your doctor
Applying an ice pack to ease the swelling
Resting and elevating the affected joint
Drinking plenty of water

Note: Avoid taking aspirin as this can make the flare-up worse.

Question 6

Q: Can certain gout medications cause acute gout?

Accepted Answer

A: Gout medication does not cause acute gout. These drugs are prescribed to treat gout by lowering levels of uric acid in the blood.

You should not stop taking gout medication during an acute flare of gout as it can affect the efficiency of treatment. It is important to comply with your prescribed medication regime and take your medications regularly to prevent future gout flare-ups.

Question 7

Q: Can gout last for months?

Accepted Answer

A: Gout flare-ups usually last for about a week. However, left untreated, they can last for a longer time.

It is important to follow the recommended treatment for a gout attack.

Seek medical help if:

Your gout pain worsens despite medication
You have a gout attack and fever

Early management of gout can prevent future attacks and permanent damage to your joints.

Question 8

Q: How common is gout?

Accepted Answer

A: Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis. It is most common in men aged 30 and above and the incidence increases with age.

Gout can also:

Affect women, although the incidence is lower until women reach menopause.
Run in families.

Question 9

Q: Can gout kill?

Accepted Answer

A: No, a gout flare-up can be intensely painful, but it will not kill you.

Gout is, however, associated with an increased risk of serious health conditions such as:

Question 10

Q: Can gout come back immediately?

Accepted Answer

A: The likelihood of recurring gout attacks varies from person to person. Some people experience attacks frequently, while others only experience attacks once every few years.

Good management of gout is important to reduce the severity and frequency of attacks. Fewer attacks also mean less damage to the affected joints.

Question 11

Q: Will gout go away on its own?

Accepted Answer

A: Gout is a chronic disease, meaning it does not go away on its own. However, with management, the frequency and severity of attacks can be lowered.

An acute gout attack will typically resolve on its own, even without treatment. Treatment is useful in preventing and lowering the frequency and severity of flares.