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GOUT.

What is it?

GOUT is an extremely painful condition, most usually in the great toe, but it can occur in any joint in the body.

What causes it?

Uric acid is quite naturally a break down product of protein, particularly red meats and sea foods.

In this nasty condition, gout, there is a missing enzyme that is vital to the break down of uric acid, so urate crystals form in the joints causing them to become red, swollen, shiny and extremely painful.

They can also build up in the kidneys causing stones.

Mushrooms have also been implicated, as have diuretics.

The vast majority of people with high uric acid remain asymptomatic and never develop pain.



A United States explosion

No one is quite sure why but, whilst hospitalisations in the USA in the last 20 years have increased by 11%, hospitalisations due to gout have mushroomed by nearly 400%. That's nuclear! Avoid mushrooms!

Common sense can be totally misleading, but it's not unrealistic to assume that it's related to the 'crap' fast food diet that Americans 'enjoy'. Getting back to eating a genuine salad (not a leaf of lettuce and a quarter of tomato) several days a week, plenty of fruit and raw food in general, back to nature is surely what it's about.

When did you last eat a bowl of legumes? A beetroot? Cold water fish? A bowl of olives? Bean sprouts? Take a look at our Healthy Living Page. Read more from HEALTHY LIVING TIPS …


Treatment

It's a very treatable disease but it is doubtful that straight chiropractic has any role to play. In the acute phase it is best treated with NSAIDs and medication to reduce uric acid. As with all inflammatory conditions, icing with an ice cube is the topical treatment of choice. Once the acute phase is over it is best to reduce protein rich foods, especially red meat, which is beneficial anyway. Mushrooms should be avoided. According to Wiki the red wine story is a myth, but beer has a profoundly detrimental effect. Shame!

More salad and, as with all the inflammatory arthritides, fasting may be of value.

Like all diseases, if neglected, it can produce gross changes in the body particularly, in this instance, in the joints.

Of concern is that treatment with a bisphosphonate drug may cause osteonecrosis (bone death) in some joints.

There is much that can be done in the way of natural arthritis relief from gout. Follow this link for some good solid dietary suggestions that MAY enable you phase out, or at least minimise your drug intake. Natural arthritis relief.

USEFUL LINKS

  • To return from GOUT to our general ARTHRITIS page.

  • To Wikipedia

  • What are gouty tophi?

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