Top Home Remedies For Gout

Gout is a complex disorder and it is seen more in men. Women also get afflicted after menopause. It is usually due to high levels of uric acid in the blood. When the symptoms of a gout attack are experienced, it is mainly due to the uric acid accumulating in the blood. It is the deposits in the joint that causes gout. It is a result of purine metabolism disorder which is characterized by a raised level of blood uric acid. Acute arthritis occurs from the deposition of sodium urate crystals in the connective tissues as well as articular cartilage. It is often inherited as well. When the urate crystals accumulate in the joints they cause swelling, inflammation and pain.

Causes Of Gout Pain

The contributory causes of gout can be several:
•    When one is obese they are likely to develop such a condition
•    When alcohol is consumed to a large extent, especially beer, it can lead to gout
•    If one pursues a diet which is high in meat and sea food it can aggravate such a condition
•    Those who follow low calorie diet with high protein intake and lead passive lives are susceptible to gout
•    Drinks high in fructose are likely to trigger gout, it has been found that women who consume beverages high in fructose content are likely to develop gout
•    Chronic kidney conditions
•    Hypertension
•    Hypothyroidism
•    Lead poisoning
There are various other factors that can contribute to aggravate the condition in the body which brings about gout.

Gout Symptoms

The symptoms of gout are acute and they come on without warning. Most of the patients experience the pain and discomfort at night:
•    One experiences severe pain in the hand, wrists, knees, feet and ankles. The big toe is affected in such cases the most. The affected areas feel warm or hot
•    When a gout attack is left untreated, it comes and goes over a couple of days.
•    The affected areas might be left feeling itch and have peeling skin.
•    The joints swell up, look red and tender and these areas the patient experiences the most pain
•    The affected area becomes red or purplish
•    Affected joints make it hard to move and one limits their movement

Top Home Remedies For Gout

Gout is a condition that can be controlled and limited to a great extent by making necessary changes in diet and lifestyle. As it is brought on or aggravated by certain habits and choices we make, the right remedies will steer one to lead a life free of such a condition.

1. Maintain The Body Weight

One needs to reduce weight as obesity is a contributory factor for gout. If one keeps a healthy weight they will be able to prevent further attack.
• It is necessary to take on healthy means to lose weight
• Crash dieting should be avoided
• One should follow moderate dieting methods with food groups low in fat and moderate in protein

2. Drink Water And Healthy Fluids

It is necessary to increase the intake of water which will have the following benefits:
• It will help to flush out the urate crystals which accumulate in the joints
• It will prevent kidney stones from forming which can also occur in such a condition

3. Avoid Alcohol

It is necessary to avoid alcohol intake as it makes the body retain urate:
• High amounts of booze consumption can cause gout
• It can worsen any existing gout condition
Wine drinking has been seen to have no influence on gout formation or making the condition persist.

4. Check The Diet

One needs to check on their diet in order to ensure that:
• They are not consuming high amounts of meat
• There should not be high levels of seafood in the daily diet

5. Avoid Certain Meat And Seafood

It is known that some types of meat and fish contain purines which form uric acid. Those who are susceptible to gout usually have a defective purine metabolism and hence, they need to reduce the intake of:
• Organ meat like kidney, liver and brain
• Fish like mackerel, herring and anchovies
Some vegetables like peas and spinach should be avoided as well.

6. Increase Vegetables And Milk Intake

It has been seen that, increasing the intake of:
• Different kinds of vegetables
• Low fat milk
will help to reduce the gout attacks.

7. Avoid Taking Diuretics Without Prescription

As water pills and other diuretics slow down the excretion of the uric acid, the build up is increased and that in turn increases the risk of gout:
• Do not take diuretic without prescription
• Inform your doctor of your gout condition

8. Avoid Placing Weight On The Joint

The joints that are inflamed need to be given rest to recover:
• Do not put pressure on the joint
• Take rest and avoid walking around or other physical activities

9. Keeping The Joint Elevated

It is best that the joint is kept elevated. That will:
• Reduce the flow of blood to the painful joints
• Help to reduce the feeling of pain

10. Avoid Warm Or Cold Compress

• Do not put warm or hot pads on the inflamed areas as it increases the blood circulation and increases pain
• If cold compress is applied it can make the crystals form rapidly and hence, intensifies the pain

11. Choose Comfortable Shoes

You need to use shoes that provide a lot of room for the toes so that they do not feel pressurized:
• Stylish, narrow pointed shoes will put pressure on the toes
• High heeled shoes put pressure on the toes

12. Try Herbal Treatment

There are many natural and herbal ingredients that are known to ease joint pain and act as anti inflammatory agents:
• Flower tops
• Ginger root
• Capsicum
• Licorice
One should try and increase such ingredients in their diet.

13. Meditation

It is seen that meditation and other relaxation techniques help to keep the gout condition at bay:
• Reduce mental stress
• Relax the body and mind

14. Wear Loose Clothing

Not only should one wear loose clothing, they need to sit or lie back in comfortable positions to allow the gout attacks to abate:
• Find time to relax and unwind
• Take plenty of rest

Are you crippled by gout pain? Do you fear those attacks coming back more often? With changes in diet, lifestyle and a positive attitude, you will be able to control the ailment and keep its symptoms at bay.

 

Source: GoHealthTips