Gout causes inflammation and attacks of joint pain (usually at night and experienced in your big or great toe), along with redness, swelling, warmth, and tenderness of the joint. The discomfort lingers for days to weeks after the attack ends and could actually develop into chronic gout, leading to impaired mobility.
Your doctor may prescribe medications like xanthine oxidase inhibitors, uricosuric drugs, and other less common drugs such as colchicine, which is for acute gout attacks.
Side effects of allopurinol include diarrhea, drowsiness, rash and low blood counts. Make sure to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day when taking allopurinol. Side effects of febuxostat include rash, nausea, joint pain and reduced liver function.
Side effects of probenecid include rash, stomach pain, kidney stones, dizziness, and headache. To prevent kidney stones, you should drink at least six to eight full glasses of water a day while taking probenecid.
Don’t stop taking medications without talking to your doctor. In many cases, there are alternatives available.
Oats Spinach Broccoli Raspberries Whole-wheat items Brown rice Black beans Cherries (Cherries can reduce gout attacks. [7] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source One study showed that eating 10 cherries a day protected people from gout flare ups. ) Low-fat or non-fat dairy
Meats: red meat and organ meats (liver, kidney and sweetbreads) Seafood: tuna, lobster, shrimp, mussels, anchovies, herring, sardines, scallops, trout, haddock, mackerel
You can still drink coffee in moderation (two to three cups a day). Some studies show that coffee may reduce the levels of uric acid in your blood, although the studies do not show a decrease in gout attacks. [12] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Fruits: cantaloupe, citrus, kiwi fruit, mango, papaya, pineapple, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, watermelon Vegetables: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, green and red peppers, spinach, cabbage, turnip greens, sweet potatoes, potatoes, tomatoes, winter squash Cereals fortified with vitamin C
Even lower physical activity has been linked to some reduction in uric acid levels. For example, if you can’t jog for 30 minutes, try briskly walking for at least 15. [17] X Research source
