DO I HAVE GOUT???
by Dr. Sharon Joag
I have been noticing in recent months that there are more and more 30 and 40 year olds who are developing Gout.
Recently, the typical presentation of gout has been a 30 year old or a post-menopausal woman, who comes into the office with a painful foot, especially at the big toe joint or at the ankle joint. Gout presents as a red, hot swollen and excruciatingly painful joint.
So, the question remains: Why are so many more people getting Gout? In the past the typical presentation for Gout was a 50 year old Male. Much research has been done to answer this question.
Women in general prior to menopause rarely if ever get Gout due to the increased amount of Estrogen in their bodies. Post-menopausal women in the past were given Estrogen in order to balance their hormonal levels and were not getting Gout as a result. However, when the estrogen supplements were slowed down and women were given more Actinel and Fosamax, these post-menopausal women started getting Gout.
But why?? Why is Gout becoming more prevalent in our Society?
CAN I GET GOUT FROM FOOD??
The answer lies in the types of food that we are consuming. All of the foods that we eat have purines in them. Purines get broken down by the body to Uric Acid. If there is an excess of uric acid, the uric acid forms crystals that get deposited in the smaller joints in the body, such as the big toe or the ankle joint,
and even the small joints in your hands.
Eventually if you have an increased level of Uric Acid in your body, you will start to develop a chronic condition, called Gouty Arthritis.
In short, the answer is yes! You can get Gout by eating foods that are rich in purines. And by the same token, you can control and eliminate Gout by eating foods that are low in Purines.
If you have symptoms of Gout, be sure to see your medical doctor or your Podiatrist if the Gout manifests in your foot or ankle.
And, you will need to speak with a Nutritionist or a Health Coach who will guide you in the types of foods you should be consuming. You may just be eating the "Standard American Diet", and you may need to make a few changes.