Gout Crystals: How To Avoid Buildup

By Judith Allison

People with an overabundance of uric acid also known as gout suffer from symptoms such as pain in the joints, stiff and tight joints, and sometimes a lack of mobility in their joints. This medical condition arises when the body's levels of uric acid increase to unhealthy levels and gout crystals develop and harden around the joints.

This most commonly effects the joints in the big toe, but can also effect the finger joints, knee joints, elbow joints, and joints in the ankles. If this condition is note treated properly, it can result in loss of mobility of any joints that have been diagnosed as having gout crystals around them.

Managing uric acid levels in the body can be done in several ways. These acid levels increase in the body due to eating too many foods that are rich in purine such as meats, certain seafood, and sweetbreads. Certain high purine, high caffeine drinks can also cause uric gout flare-ups.

These include coffee, high caffeine sodas, and caffeinated teas. Often times if a person is in the early stages of gout, a change in the diet can can give relief from pain and stiffness of the joints in a very short time. Eliminating high purine foods and drinks from your diet and drinking plenty of water can help flush out uric acid from your system and the symptoms of gout will soon come to an end.

If eliminating these foods from your diet does not make your gout symptoms go away, you may need to take certain medications that are specifically intended to dissolve gout crystals. NSAIDs are mild and may provide some relief, but frequently stronger medications are necessary.

These more intense drugs, such as colchicine or probenecid, have a much higher success rate and often dissolve all the uric acid crystals, making your gout symptoms disappear. Taking these drugs is basically the same as putting poison into your body, however, and many people who take them experience terrible side effects like nausea and vomiting. If you have any of these side effects it is essential that you notify your physician immediately. Depending on how bad your side effects are, your doctor may decide to prescribe a different drug.

Some patients who are being treated for gout crystals around their joints find that exercise gives them tremendous relief. By moving and flexing the area of the body affected by gout, crystals can be broken up and will dissolve more easily. It is also very important to drink lots of fluids during exercise to help uric acids to leave the body when you perspire from working out. If you can exercise regularly it can be a more natural way to keep uric acids levels down and prevent a recurrence of gout flareups.

You should also find out if your family members have any history of gout. You are more likely to develop gout if one of your parents or grandparents suffered from it. Be proactive about your gout; control your diet and cut back on foods that have high amounts of purines. Drink large amounts of water as this will help your system flush out the uric acid. You should also begin a regular workout to help enhance your flexibility and prevent gout crystals from forming. - 30287

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