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Gout: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment at Fascia Clinics
Gout (arthritis urica) is the most common inflammatory joint disease (arthritis) in our society. The disease is more common in men. The rising prevalence of gout is partly due to changes in lifestyle and increased prevalence of high body weight. Gout can be very painful and have a major impact on daily activities and working life. Many people with gout are rarely informed about how lifestyle factors can affect their disease.
What is Gout?
Definition and background
Gout is a form of arthritis (joint inflammation) caused by increasing levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is very difficult to dissolve and can crystallize and lodge in joints, tendons or other surrounding tissues. This can lead to sudden, intense pain, swelling and redness. It most often affects the big toe, hence the name ‘portal toe’, but other joints in the foot can also be affected.
How uric acid crystals form and cause inflammation
Uric acid, or urate, is a by-product of the breakdown of purines. Purines are present in some foods but are also produced by the body. If there is too much uric acid in the blood, crystals form in joints, tendons, bursae or other tissues. This causes the body’s immune system to react, resulting in inflammation in the area.
Why does Gout occur?
Lifestyle factors that affect the risk of gout
There are several lifestyle factors that can influence the risk of developing gout. For example, high body weight, whether caused by obesity or muscle mass, can lead to high levels of urate in the blood. It is important to note that people who are overweight often have several factors that can increase the risk of gout, such as insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia. In addition, it should be noted that short-term muscle work increases blood uric acid levels, while regular moderate exercise lowers them.
Reducing alcohol consumption can also be an important factor. The breakdown of alcohol produces, among other things, lactate, which inhibits the excretion of uric acid from the kidneys. Consumption of purine-rich foods can increase uric acid levels in the blood.
Genetic factors and gout
In recent years, several gene variations have been found that increase uric acid in the blood. The gene variations may also provide a partial explanation for the large differences in the incidence of gout around the world. If the disease runs in the family, there is a greater risk of being affected as there is a hereditary component.
Diseases and medications that can increase the risk of gout
Some medicines can increase the risk of gout. These include diuretics, cytostatics, lithium, but also medicines containing acetylsalicylic acid and nicotinic acid can increase uric acid levels in the blood.
Symptoms of Gout
Characteristic signs of a gout attack
Gout attacks are characterized by sudden, intense pain in the joint that often occurs during the night when the body temperature drops. Other common symptoms in the affected joint include reduced range of motion, tenderness, redness, warmth and swelling of the affected joint.
Long-term complications and chronic gout
If left untreated, it can lead to complications in the form of chronic gout with damage to bones, joints and cartilage. Chronic gout can also lead to the formation of ‘gouty nodules’, or tofi. These consist of accumulations of urate crystals and are often localized around the outer ear, elbow bursa, Achilles tendon or fingers. Trophies can cause painful and difficult-to-heal ulcers and impaired function. Another long-term complication of gout is kidney stones and other damage to the kidneys.
Examinations and Diagnosis
How gout is diagnosed
It is often very easy to diagnose gout, as the symptoms are very clear. A blood test to check the level of uric acid is also required. Sometimes an X-ray and analysis of the synovial fluid may be necessary to make the diagnosis more certain.
The importance of blood uric acid levels and joint fluid tests
Analysis of synovial fluid and blood tests can help detect the disease quickly by finding early signs. Unfortunately, many health centers do not have access to these methods. In order to classify a joint disease as gout, various criteria have been developed that must be met.
Treatment methods for gout
Emergency treatment and pain relief
In acute gout, colchicine and anti-inflammatory painkillers are the main treatment, even if the person is already on urate-lowering therapy. It is also important to relieve and rest the joint as pressure can make the pain worse.
Long-term treatment and prevention
To reduce the risk of gout recurrence, treatment is often with anti-inflammatory and urate-lowering drugs, such as allopurinol. Treatment often needs to be monitored to check that uric acid levels are at the right level.
Lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of gout attacks
There are several lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of developing gout. These include maintaining a healthy body weight with regular exercise. Staying hydrated and reducing consumption of purine-rich foods. Reducing your alcohol consumption is also important.
How we can help you
At FasciaClinics, we specialize in seeing and treating the body from a holistic perspective. We perform fascia treatments, a highly effective treatment method that focuses on treating and maintaining the fascia in our body. Fascia is the network of connective tissue that binds and permeates everything in our body. All cells, tissues (even bone), muscles and organs contain fascia. The fascia is also very rich in free pain receptors, known as nociceptors, which react to stimuli such as pressure, and send signals to the central nervous system where it is interpreted as pain.
Fascia treatment focuses on releasing tension and adhesions in the fascia and increasing its flow. Reduced pressure and increased circulation allow cell membranes to more easily absorb nutrients and release waste products. Fascia treatment can lead to improved mobility of the affected joint with less pain and improved self-healing.
During a visit, we analyze the whole body to see where compensations and imbalances are and how they have spread. If there is an imbalance in the body, there is a risk that they will spread and affect other structures. That’s why it’s very important to seek help quickly as soon as you experience any symptoms.
