Gout Awareness Day sheds light on painful symptoms and healthy choices

By: Greg Dorado, DPT, Peninsula Home Care

National Gout Awareness Day is recognized annually on May 22 to help raise awareness about gout, a painful disease that affects approximately 8.3 million Americans.  

As the number of older Americans continues to grow, and the rates of obesity and overweight increase, the number of people with arthritis-attributable activity limitations will only increase.  

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that develops in people who have high levels of uric acid in their body. Uric acid is produced naturally by the body and from eating foods that have high purines, which are substances in animal and plant foods that the body converts to uric acid.  

Gout flares are triggered by consuming heavy amounts of alcohol, especially beer and foods high in purines such as liver, kidney, sweetbreads and other organ meats; red meats such as beef, lamb and pork; and seafood like anchovies, sardines, mackerel, herring, mussels, scallops, trout, haddock and tuna. Broth, gravy, sugary beverages and tomatoes are also high in purine.  

Eating a healthy diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, plant proteins and minimally processed foods may reduce your risk of a gout attack. Eliminating or minimizing purine-rich meats and seafood and watching alcohol intake can help lessen uric acid levels in the body and limit acute gout flares. 

Participating in regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can lower your risk of repeated gout attacks, as well as your chances of developing heart disease, which is common in people with gout.  

Despite the sudden onset and intense pain, gout flares usually get better within a week to 10 days, and symptoms may disappear if the disease is properly managed; sometimes the next attack may not happen for months or even years. It’s important that once you have an attack, you work with your doctor to control uric acid levels and prevent future gout attacks.