How to Stop a Gout Attack

What are the signs and symptoms of gout?

Gout is one of the most painful forms of arthritis (joint pain). It occurs when too much uric acid builds up in the body. Uric acid comes from the breakdown of substances called purines. Purines are found in all our body’s tissues. They are also in many foods, such as liver, dried beans and peas, red meat and peanuts.

Normally, uric acid dissolves in the blood. It passes through the kidneys and out of the body in urine. Reasons for a gout attack:

• The body increases the amount of uric acid it makes
• The kidneys do not get rid of enough uric acid
• A person eats too many foods high in purines

When uric acid levels in the blood are high, it is called hyperuricemia. Most people with hyperuricemia do not develop gout. But if excess uric acid crystals form in the body, gout can develop. It can attack the big toe, ankle, knee or elbow joints. Symptoms of a gout attack:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Redness
• Stiffness in joints

The build-up of uric acid can lead to:

• Uric acid crystal deposits in joints, often in the big toe
• Deposits of uric acid (called tophi) that look like lumps under the skin
• Kidney stones from uric acid crystals in the kidneys.

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