Medically Reviewed by Dr. Rachel N. Verville
August 4, 2017
Gout is one of the most painful and, unfortunately, common issues that we see here at our clinic. It can come on suddenly and last for hours, days, and sometimes even weeks. Around 4% of Americans (8.3 million) suffer from gout and it is more common in men than in women. We wanted to take this blog post to talk about what gout is and how it develops. One of the best things you can do if you’re suffering from gout is to get the affected joint looked at by a foot doctor. Frisco patients should call Dr. Verville today at (214) 385-8822 to learn more about our practice and setup an appointment to get help with your gout. We would love to help ease your symptoms and give you some effective methods to manage it. Make sure you take a look at our Reviews page to see what kind of experience our patients have with Dr. Verville.
What Causes Gout?
The first thing to understand about gout is that it is part of the arthritis “family.” That means it has to do with inflammation in your joints. Specifically, gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid in the joints. Of course, the next question is: what is uric acid?
Uric acid is created when your body digests certain foods and beverages like red meat, alcoholic beverages, and high-fructose corn syrup. Usually, our bodies are able to expel the uric acid in urine. But in the case of gout patients, the uric acid builds up and solidifies into razor-sharp crystals. The crystals collect in the joints and cause pain, tenderness, redness, and swelling.
Gout “attacks” happen when uric acid levels get too high. When that happens the swelling and discomfort will usually peak at night and last for several hours. This is usually when patients will call their foot doctor. Frisco patients that are suffering from a gout attack will often be prescribed some sort of anti-inflammatory to help reduce swelling in the joints.
Who Is At Risk for Gout?
If you’ve been suffering from gout, you’ve probably given a lot of thought about going to a foot doctor. Frisco patients that see a foot doctor about gout will usually talk about their medical history and their diet.
- Obesity – Patients that are overweight will produce more uric acid. This makes it even harder for your body to expel it in urine.
- Diet – Eating a diet that is high in red meat, alcohol, and sugar can all lead to an increase in the risk of developing gout.
- Medical history – If you suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease it can raise the chance of you getting gout.
- Genetics – If anyone in your family has gout there is a higher chance that you may develop it also.
Why Get Your Gout Treated by Dr. Verville
Gout is one of the more frustrating illnesses because patients can only manage it instead of curing it. This is exactly why gout sufferers should see a foot doctor. Frisco patients that work with Dr. Verville will get all of the benefits of her 10-plus years of experience working with gout. She can recommend a wide variety of treatments and self-care methods that could be able to reduce the symptoms and potentially the chances of you enduring another attack. There’s no reason for you to live in fear of your next gout attack.
Call Dr. Verville today at her office in Frisco to learn more and get relief. Call (214) 385-8822.
