Have you suffered from gout? I did, for one day, several years ago. But it was a day of pure suffering. I had it in my left foot which made walking excruciatingly painful that I had to limp. I thought, for a while, that my active life was coming to an end.
To my relief, it was gone the following day and has never come back since then.
How it left as fast as it came is the subject of this article. But before that, here are interesting things you must know about gout.
What is gout?
Gout is one of about 100 types of arthritis, and the fourth among the most common (the other are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia).
it was once dubbed as the “disease of the kings” because it only afflicted those who can afford to overindulge in food and wine. But with the growing middle class, the abundance of food resulting in an increase in obesity cases, it has become one of the most common medical issues of the elderly.
In fact, in 2008, 9% of Americans, aged 60 to 79, had bouts of gout. The percentage was higher, 13%, for those in the 80s and above.
So what causes gout?
It is caused by excess uric acid in the blood. Some of these form uric acid crystals that deposit in joints like the big toe, ankle, knee, elbow, wrist, and others.
Joints affected by gout are often reddish, swollen, soft to the touch, but always very painful.
Living with the disease can be a very painful experience, but it can be done.
How to live with gout?
Though mine lasted only for a day, a typical bout episode can be between three to ten days. In a few cases, it becomes chronic resulting in deformities of the affected joint.
Living with gout can only be done two ways: through drugs or discipline.
I am not a medicines man for two reasons: First, they are an additional expense and, second, they cause dependencies.
So if you want to avoid it on a long-term basis, self-discipline is the way to go.
Here’s how:
1. Keep away from food high in purine:
Purines are chemical compounds in foods and drinks we normally take as part of our diet.
If you have experienced bouts of gout, limit or keep away from organ meats like liver, kidney, pancreas, and brain; bacon, beef, pork, and lamb; anchovies, sardines, herring, mackerel, and scallops.
And keep away from too much beer.
Even beans with moderate amounts of purines can trigger gout if taken in excess – which it did in my case. I love tinned pork and beans.
2. Be hydrated always:
Being always hydrated reduces the risk of this medical issue; it reduces the risk of urate crystals from forming.
So make sure you take no less than 1 liter of water per day. Skimmed milk will do, as well as fruit juices provided they are not laden with sugar.
Some evidence suggests coffee also helps prevent the occurrence of gout because of its diuretic properties.
This makes sense to me because coffee helped me get rid of it.
3. Exercise:
Exercise is necessary for people of all ages. If you are senior suffering from gout, it is almost mandatory.
Not while you are suffering from its pain, of course. But you must hit the road as soon as the episode passes.
Exercise eases stiffness, improves joint movement, strengthens muscles and bones, and maintains bone density.
And if you don’t? Well, as the saying goes, “you will lose it if you don’t use it.” If you don’t exercise your muscles become weak and stiff making movements even more difficult and painful.
4. Lose weight:
I know of some people losing weight after they have experienced gout arthritis. While this may be commendable, it’s kind of having the airbags inflate after the collision. commendable, it is not the right way to do it;
With or without it, reduce weight. It is for your own good.
Lose weight gradually. A drastic weight loss from a crash diet can cause cell breakdown, resulting in an increase in urate levels.
The best way to lose weight gradually is to have a nutritious diet coupled with exercise. Try to hit your ideal BMI (body mass index) if you want to avoid this old-age health issue for good.
5. Keep away from alcohol, particularly beer:
Here’s a good news/bad news about alcohol consumption and gout. are the good news and bad news regarding gout and alcohol.
The bad news is that alcohol, particularly beer is bad if you have gout. Even if you don’t, drinking in excess puts you at risk of developing one, especially if you are obese.
The good news is that studies upon studies have not established why they are bad for gout sufferers.
So keep drinking – but keep it within limits.
I drink two cans of beer each Saturday evening. That’s discipline.
Like you, I have several among my circle of friends who have gout. It’s kind of sad to see them suffer so much for something they could have avoided or have full control of. They rely too much on drugs to alleviate their suffering when all they need to do is to have a change in lifestyle to avoid such unnecessary expenses.
Please share with other gout sufferers so they can find lasting relief from this health issue common to people our age.
~oOo~
