GOUT

GOUT

Introduction:   Gout is an inflammation of the joints that affects more than half a millions Pakistanis each year. People with gout have intense pain and swelling in their joints. If not treated gout attackes can become increasingly frequent and painful. With proper treatment gout can be stopped from getting worse and the pain can be managed. Joints & Arthritis: The human body has 206 bones that give it shape and strength. The place where 2 bones meet is called a join. At the joints the bones are covered by tissue called cartilage. Joints have a clear fluid in them called synovial fluid. This fluid lubricates the joints just like oil lubricates the eninge of a car. The synovial fluid allows the joint to move smoothly with very little friction. When the tissues of a joint are injured or affected by a disease they may swell and become a red and hot causing pain. This is known as joint inflammation or arthritis. There are more than 100 differnt types of arthritis. Gout is a type of arthritis it affects 1 out of every 20 patients who have arthritis. Gout results from crystals of a substance called uric acid that deposit in the joints. The next section explains what uric acid is and how it causes gout. Causes:   Purine is a chemical compound that is in all the cells of the body. As cells divide and multiply the body continually breaks down purine and reuses its components to make new cells. Extra purine is secreted out of the body in the urine in the form of uric acid, another chemical compound. At times there mya be abnormally high levels of uric acid in the blood. This condition is called "hyperuricemia." When there is a lot of uric acid in the body it will form crystals. This is similar to wha6t happens with salt as it is poured into a cup of water. First the salt dossolves and cannot bee seen but if more salt is added salt crystles can be seen forming and falling to the bottom of the cup. Under a microscope crystals of uric acid are sharp and pointy and look like little needles. In some people uric acid crystals deposit in the joints. Uric acid crystals may also deposit under the skin forming a lump that can sometimes be felt on the outside of the body. This is called a "tophus." The immune system the body's defense against sickness realizes that the crystals should not be there and starts attacking them. This is what causes joint pain, swelling, and tenderness when a person has gout. Extra uric acid may also deposit in the kidneys and causes kidney stones. Risk Factors:   Some people have more risk than others of developing high levels of uric acid which leads to gout. INherited diseases can cause high levels of uric acid; 6 to 18% of patients with gout have a family history of gout. Eating too many foods that are rich in purine can cause the body to produce more uric acid. Foods that have a lot of purine include shellfish and organ meats, such as liver, kidney, and brain. Dried beans, peas and anchovies are also high in purines. Being overweight increases the risk of developing gout. Some medications increase the risk of hyperuricemia, or high levels of uric acid. Water pills, called diuretics, interfere with the kidneys ability to excrete uric acid from the blood. This causes higher levels of uric acid in the blood. Diuretics are givend to patients to treat high blood pressure and heart disease. Other medications which are given to patients aspirin can also increase the levels of uric acid in the blood. Symptoms & Stages:   Gout affects about 840 out of every 100,000 people. Men are slightly more likely to be affected by it than women. The first symptoms of gout are usually noticed in the early 40s. High levels of uric acid alone usually do not produce symptoms. The symptoms of gout start when uric acid crystals begin depositing in the tissues of the body, under the skin, in the joints, and in the kidneys. In the many gout patients the first symptom is pain, redness, swelling, and tenderness in the big toe. This condition is called "podagra." At one point or another podagra affects 3 out of every 4 patients who have gout. Joints that are frequently affected by gout include: Ankle Heels Knees Wrists Fingers Elbow Attacks of inflammation in the joints due to gout usually last for a few days and improve on their own. As times goes by gout attackes may become more frequent and may last longer requiring threatment. if gout is not treated it can become disabling and crippling. However most aptients do not reach this stage because it is typically discovered and treated early. This last stage is known as tophaceous gout. The joints can be permanently damaged and similarly the kidneys can also be irreversibly affected. Diagnosis:   After taking a detailed medical case history and doing a thorough physical examination the homeopath may request a blood test to check the level of uric acid in your blood. It is important to note that most people with hyperuricemia do not develop the arthritis symptoms of gout, such as swelling, redness, pain, and tenderness. Treatment:   Gout is treated with homeopathic classical medications that are: RElieve the pain of gout attacks Decrease joint inflammation Decrease the level of uric acid in the blood There are many goals for the treatment of gout. The most important goal is to cure the severe pain of gout attackes. DrAamir's homeopathic treatment of gout also aims at cure more attacks and cure the formation of new tophi and kidney stones. Preventing Gout:   Takin steps to prevent gout attacks is as important as taking homeopathic medication to cure it. The following are 5 tips for preventing gout. Drink a lot of water and fluids. This helps to flush out uric acid and keeps it from depositing in the tissues. Reduce weight by eating a little less and getting exercise. Do this under the supervision of a homeopath becuase a very rapid loss of weight could in some cases worsen gout. Avoid eating food that is high in purines such as Liver, Brain, and Kidneys. Do not drink alcohol. Take homeopathic treatment to reduce the level of uric acid in your blood. During a gout attack resting and elevating the inflamed join can relieve the pain. Applying an ice pack to the inflamed joint helps to reduce the pain also.