Gout, a metabolic arthritis, is a crystal deposition disease hallmarked by increased levels of uric acid (Hyperuricaemia) in the blood and causes inflammation. The condition holds that the crystals of Monosodium Urate (MSU) or uric acid are deposited on the articular cartilage of joints, tendons and surrounding tissues. It is marked by transient painful attacks of acute arthritis pioneered by crystallization of urates within and about the joints. It eventually leads to chronic gouty arthritis and the deposition of masses of urates in joints and other sites, which create tophi. In the ancient age, gout was recognised as one of the leading causes of painful disabling chronic arthritis.
Types of Gout
Gout results from a combination of prolonged increase of uric acid and overall acidity in the bloodstream. There are different types of gout that include;
"Asymptomatic Hyperuricaemia" is an early stage without any symptoms.
"Podagra" is another type of gout which occurs in the big toe.
Acute Gout is also named as "Acute Gouty Arthritis".
"Inter-critical Gout" is another type of gout which is the symptom-free stage between attacks of acute gout.
"Chronic Tophaceous Gout" is the most advanced stage of gout.
Causes of Gout
There are some reasons that precede gout. The reasons include dietary imbalance, surgery and medicinal intake for some diseases. Among all these causes, fat is a common ingredient in the foods that cause gout. High intake of purine foods and dairy products can lead to gout. Even consumption of some vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, cauliflower, peas, asparagus, lentils and beans can accelerate gout. Earlier injury, surgery, high intake of alcohol, chemotherapy, even some diseases like Chronic kidney disease, High blood pressure, Hypothyroidism, Surgery and conditions that cause an abnormal rapid turnover of cells, such as psoriasis, multiple myeloma, haemolytic anaemia, or tumors can direct to gout. Heredity is another important factor in causing this disease and certain races are prone to gout. Stress is also regarded as an important cause of gout.
Symptoms of Gout
The symptoms of gout are generally understood when one feels sudden onset of severe pain, tenderness, warmth, redness and swelling from inflammation of the affected joint. The disease may be accompanied by feverishness, vomiting and headache and also feel disinclined to eat. One"s health, however, can also be aggravated by humid weather and errors in diet. If ignored, the disease can affect vital organs like the heart and the patient may suffer from palpitation and a sinking sensation. In addition to that the increased level of uric acid in blood is also considered a symptom of gout.
Attack of Gout
An attack of gout is usually accompanied by acute pain in the big toe, which becomes tender, hot and swollen in a few hours. The affected joints also become red, hot and painful. It may also similarly affect other joints such as the knees and the wrists, and sometimes more than one joint may be affected at a time. The attack usually occurs at midnight or in the early hours of the morning, when the patient is suddenly awakened. The acute attack generally lasts for a week or so.
Treatment of Gout
As gout had been affecting human beings since the ancient age; different treatments had been discovered by the practitioners of Ayurveda, Naturopathy and Homeopathy. In recent time, the process of treatment has been improved and various other ways are revealed to treat gout. Counting on the antiquity, the alternative medicines of treating gout are considered of great use.
1. Naturopathy Treatment: Naturopathy prescribes proper intake of foods and balanced diet. The cure of gout needs to follow simple balanced food with minimum of proteins substances and physical exercises.
2. Water Therapy: In alternative medicines, gout is treated by Water therapy. The feet should be bathed in Epsom salt foot baths twice daily. Cold packs at night, applied to the affected joints, will be beneficial.
3. Magnetic Therapy: Magnetic therapy is another way to treat gout in alternative medicine. In this therapy, south-pole oil should be applied before the application of the magnets. Local application of the magnet should be executed either to the toes or to any other joint for 30 minutes daily in the evening. Mixed magnetized water should be taken four times daily to wash off the uric acid deposits and to rid the organism of morbid matter.
