Is Gout a Result of an Excessive Lifestyle?

Is there any connection between gout and an excessive lifestyle?

Excessive lifestyle triggers the symptoms of gout. Excessive lifestyle includes: rich food, no exercise, and drinking too much alcohol.

Naturally our body needs a well-balanced diet and exercise so excessive lifestyle makes you down the normal line. 

It is claimed that people who drink too much alcohol and eat fish and meat are at greater risk of developing gout. Although meat and fish are an essential part of your regular diet, you must consume it at a healthy level. 

Lifestyle or dietary changes lower the level of uric acid in your blood however, these things can't fully treat gout but lower the gout attacks, uric acid level in your body, and weight.

So, adopting a healthy lifestyle such as maintaining a healthy weight, physical activity, and balanced diet will help you improve the quality of your life even with gout. However, for complete prevention, you still need medications.

What is Gout?

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis, causing pain, redness, tenderness, warmth, difficult moving, and swelling in your joints and tissues.

It usually occurs in the form of flares and lasts for 1-2 weeks. Gout flares are caused by high levels of uric acid and usually occur in your lower limb or big toe.

High levels of uric acid lead to the formation of needle-shaped crystals that accumulate in and around your joints.

Gout usually affects your:

• Kidneys: as high levels of uric acid can cause stones in it. 
• Hand 
• Joints
• Feet
• Elbows
• Ankles
• Knees 
• Wrists 
• Tendon sheaths (it is a membrane that surround tendons)
• Cushion-like sacs between your bone and soft tissues (Bursae).

Signs of Gout and When to Visit the GP

The sign and symptoms of gout are:

• Redness
• Discoloration
• Stiffness
• Intense pain
• Swelling 
• Tenderness 
• Warmth or feeling like you are on fire
• Hyperuricemia (High Uric Acid Level)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Obesity
• Chronic kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Myocardial Infarction (heart attack)
• Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
• Congestive heart failure

Once you notice these signs and symptoms, seek medical help for faster diagnosis and treatment.

In Which People Gout Develop Most?

So, what type of person gets gout? Most people get gout in their middle age. It is less common in women and more common in men.

In women, gout appears at a later age when they have menopause. However, if gout develops at a young age, it will be more severe.

Those who consume excessive alcohol, red meat, fish, and sugary drinks are at higher risk due to increased uric acid levels in the blood.

Additionally, individuals with a family history of gout, obesity, or certain medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes are more susceptible.

Food to Take with Gout

If you are suffering from gout, eat a balanced and nutritious diet to lower the uric acid level in your body. These type of food include:

• Plenty of water to avoid alcohol and sweetened drinks.
• Plant-based food such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains.
• Take protein from fish (contains omega-3 fatty acids), tofu, and chicken rather than pork or beef.
• Consume less fatty food such as red meat.
• Flaky white fish such as tilapia, flounder, or cod. 
• Citrus fruits and other food that contain vitamin C such as peppers and strawberries. 
• Cherries, coffee, and cherry juice.
• Low-fat dairy products 
• DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet for eight weeks to lower the uric acid levels and attain a healthy weight.

Foods to Avoid with Gout

So, if you are dealing with gout, you must avoid:

• Seafood as it contains a high level of purines
• Sardines, mussels, tuna, trout, shellfish, scallops, and anchovies
• Fatty dairy products 
• Sweetened drinks 
• Alcohol such as liquor, beer, cider, and wine.
• High fructose corn syrup
• Organ meats such as tripe, kidneys, brains, liver, or sweetbreads
• Red meat
• Game meats such as veal, goose, and venison. 
• Meat sauces
• Gravy
• Processed deli Turkey. 
• Purine-rich vegetables such as spinach and asparagus

How to Prevent Gout? Lifestyle Changes to Manage Gout

Lifestyle changes such as healthy weight and physical exercise help you manage and prevent gout effectively. So follow your doctor’s plan and these guidelines to keep your condition under control: 

Perform regular exercise: Physical activity reduces gout pain, uric acid level, risk of obesity, and other health conditions that can lead you towards gout. 

Lose your weight: Maintain your healthy weight to reduce the risk of gout attacks, uric acid levels, and pressure on affected joints.  

Perform low impact activities: Choose walking, biking, or swimming as they offer a low risk of injury and do not put stress on your joints. Joint injury will worsen gout symptoms so do what is easier for your joints. 

Follow doctor’s instructions: Attend your appointments and follow your doctor’s guidelines to get rid of gout attacks.

How to Diagnose Gout?

Your doctor will perform a physical examination and assess your symptoms like swelling, warmth, and pain in joints. Physicians also asked for X-ray and other lab-tests to detect uric acid crystals in your joints. The tests may include:

• Ultrasound
• X-rays
• Ct scan (computed tomography) or dual-energy CT scan.
• MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) 
• Joint aspiration: sample of fluid from an infected joint via needle
• Blood test: measure uric acid level in your body 

How to Treat Gout?

To treat gout and gout flares up, you need a low dose of certain medications regularly to control uric acid levels. These drugs include:

Colchicine along with febuxostat, allopurinol, and probenecid.
NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen or Advil.

Corticosteroids 

If it does not work, take an intravenous dose of pegloticase after every two weeks to reduce uric acid level.
However, you must consult your doctor if you:

• Get any gout complications.
• Have symptoms of any heart event like heart attack or stroke.
• Experience sudden pain or discoloration in your affected joint.

After consultation, ask your doctor the following questions for better results:

• How do I manage gout attacks?
• How can I prevent gout flare ups in future?
• Which drinks, food, or medications should I avoid?

The Verdict

Gout is not a fatal disease but if left untreated, it can cause severe complications such as kidney, heart, and joint damage.

So, it is essential to control uric acid level with medications and certain lifestyle changes, reducing complications and gout attacks.

Moreover, adhere to your doctor’s treatment plan and prescribed medicines to manage your symptoms and avoid gout flare-ups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Gout be Fully Cured?

Gout is a treatable disease. With lifestyle changes, doctor’s advice, and certain medications, you can manage your gout symptoms, prevent gout attacks, and lower uric acid level in your body.

Is Gout Caused by Lifestyle?

Gout is linked to certain lifestyle changes such as a purine rich diet, obesity, and too much alcohol consumption. These factors increase the uric acid level in your blood, forming crystals in joints and causing gout.

What Is Gout Caused by Overproduction of?

Gout is caused by the high level of uric acid in your blood. It is a waste product formed by the breakdown of purines, depositing in your joints (big toe or lower limb) and causing gout attacks. 

Can Lifestyle Changes Cure Gout?

Lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, balanced weight, and less alcohol intake help you manage your gout symptoms and flares up. Lifestyle changes/dietary changes lower your uric acid level and relieve symptoms.

Why Do Healthy People Get Gout?

Some healthy people have genetic predisposition and get gout as their body naturally produces too much uric acid. Their kidneys are unable to excrete that high level, resulting in gout.

Moreover, certain factors such as medications, purine rich food, and dehydration also cause gout in healthy people.