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Prevent The Pain Of Gout With These Simple Changes

By: Steven Carter

Gout can be extremely painful, we are constantly told nowadays to live healthier lives, and avoiding gout is one definite incentive to. Now lots of people probably haven't even heard of gout before, but for those afflicted by it then it is a serious issue that cannot be ignored. With only about 0.5% of people being affected then it is difficult to get media coverage for this disease, couple that with the fact it is not fatal then it is mostly ignored. But ask any sufferer about it and they will tell you how serious this condition can be.

Gout is caused by an excess of uric acid in your body, that then forms needle shaped crystals. The crystals move around in the blood and fluids of the body, until they congregate around a joint. The crystals have a damaging effect and start to irritate the surrounding tissue. The party doesn't stop, so the tissue gets severely irritated and becomes seriously inflamed. Very suddenly, usually in the middle of the night, you have a big toe or other joint feeling like it is really on fire and burning up. The pain is abrupt, intense and liable to last for a week or more.

The intense pain and the inflammation in the affected part can be dehabilitating, usually the toe or foot. It can mean no walking other than crutches for a week or so. The inflammed area is so sensitive that anything that comes into contact with it will cause extreme pain and discomfort. Sufferers even report the duvet on their bed touching them causing severe pain during an attack. Gout does attack, but then retreats for a time and returns to attack another day.

If you want to use a natural approach to preventing gout then there are a few simple changes you can make in your life that can have a huge effect. All of the recommended prevention methods are going to help you in other areas of your health as well. The first is maintaining a healthy weight and good fitness. Extra weight on the body can lead to increased uric acid production in the body and increased risk of gout.

Your lifestyle can assist the body natural ability to remove any excess uric acid. One of the easiet ways to help is to make sure you drink plenty of fluids like water and stay hydrated. Water is essential to your body eliminating waste well, including uric acid. Another part of this practice is avoiding alcohol, especially on a regular basis. An occasional drink won't cause much problem of a problem, but long term exposure could be detrimental.

For the food aspects of diet, there are guidelines for gout prevention. Purines are a substance the body makes into uric acid. Wild meats and foods that involve the organs in an animal are very high in purines so they may help create excess uric acid. Some delicacies such as liver, kidney, heart, and brains should be strictly limited or eliminated for maximum gout prevention. Shellfish and small oily fish such as anchovies, herring, and sardines are on the list to avoid as well.

If you follow all these changes you should be in pretty good shape overall and feeling a lot better not just because you are protecting yourself from gout, but because you are healthier overall!

Article Source: http://www.newagelivingarticles.com

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