Ever woken up to a joint throbbing with intense pain, so severe you can barely touch it, feeling hot and swollen?
You might be experiencing gout, a common and very painful type of inflammatory arthritis.
Gout happens when your body has too much uric acid, a waste product from breaking down certain foods called purines. Normally, your kidneys filter this out, but sometimes, levels get too high.
When there’s too much uric acid, tiny, sharp, needle-like crystals can form and deposit in your joints, most often your big toe. These crystals then trigger sudden attacks of excruciating pain, swelling, and redness.
Things like eating a lot of red meat, seafood, drinking alcohol, especially beer, and sugary drinks can trigger these attacks, and genetics can also play a role. Being overweight or having certain health conditions like kidney disease also increases your risk.
The good news is, gout is treatable! Medications can help ease the pain during an attack and prevent future ones. Lifestyle changes, like a balanced diet and staying hydrated, are also key to managing it.
So, if you suspect gout, don’t ignore it – talk to your doctor. Understanding and managing it is the first step to feeling better and getting back to enjoying life!