Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes pain and swelling in the joints, usually as flares that last for a week or two, and then resolve. Gout flares usually occur in one joint and can be triggered by certain foods, alcohol, certain medications, physical trauma, or certain illnesses. Gout occurs when urate crystals accumulate in the joint, causing inflammation and intense pain. Urate crystals can form when there are high levels of uric acid in the blood, which can happen when the body produces too much uric acid when it breaks down purines, substances that are found naturally in the body and certain foods, including red meat and organ meats, such as liver. When this happens, uric acid can build up, forming sharp, needle-like urate crystals in a joint or surrounding tissue that cause pain, inflammation, and swelling.
Factors that increase the uric acid level in the body include:
- Diet: Eating a diet rich in red meat and shellfish and drinking beverages sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose) increase levels of uric acid, which increase your risk of gout.
- Medications: Aspirin, certain diuretics for high blood pressure (and other conditions), and drugs for people who had organ transplants can trigger gout.
- Health conditions: Hypertension (high blood pressure), chronic kidney disease, obesity, diabetes, nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), myocardial infarction (heart attack), and congestive heart failure can increase the risk of gout.
To prevent future gout flares, making changes to your diet and lifestyle, such as losing weight, limiting alcohol, and avoiding foods high in purines (like red meat or organ meat which can cause gout flares), may help.
