Gout is a common problem in society today, but evidence of gout has been found in Egyptian mummies, so it’s not a new problem. Gout is caused by an inflammatory reaction to uric acid crystals that get deposited into joints. They get deposited into joints when levels in the blood get too high. It is the inflammatory reaction that causes the intense pain seen in gout. Normally uric acid, which comes from purines in the diet are excreted by the kidney and causes no problems. However in gout, either too much purine is taken in and/or the kidney can not excrete enough. This is why gout is common in those with kidney problems. As the blood levels are too high the body has to do something, so the joints get affected. Most commonly it is the big toe joint of the foot that is affected by gout. The pain is extreme in gout, usually in a male aged over 40. Attacks usually subside in a few weeks, so medication is often needed for the pain and to reduce the uric acid levels. Long term drugs may be needed to help with the kidney problem and the diet may need to be changed to reduce the purines that are ingested.
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