Gout is no longer an uncommon disease today. In fact, more and more people are suffering from the disease. It’s also worth mentioning that majority of the risk factors contributing to gout development are prevalent among a larger number of people nowadays. Unfortunately, not everyone is well aware of how gout develops. Because of this, they miss out on the fact that gout is a highly preventable and manageable disease. As a result, most people often dismiss their first gout attack as another minor joint pain and leading them to take inappropriate interventions.
Therefore, it’s important for gout sufferers and non-sufferers to be fully aware of what gout is and how it develops. If you are able to identify the early signs of the disease, you are able to provide more suitable treatment. It must also be emphasized that when gout is managed earlier with appropriate interventions, the chances of curing it is high as well.
The key to providing prompt interventions during gout attacks is being able to identify it as soon as it presents itself. In other words, the only way to manage gut effectively is to know that it’s actually gout that’s causing the joint pain, inflammation and other related symptoms. A simple knee or toe pain must not be ruled out without further assessment by a physician. An article entitled Foot, Knee Or Ankle Pain? Don’t Rule Out Gout discusses the importance of being vigilant with any form of impending sign of gout. The following sections are directly quoted from that article.
Eight million Americans have gout. It’s the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in men over the age of 40. However, its symptoms can be similar to those of a stubbed toe or ankle sprain, which is why so many people often misinterpret the pain associated with a gout attack for something else.
“When gout attacks for the first time, many sufferers mistake the pain for an impact-induced injury or a sprain,” said Herbert S. B. Baraf, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at The George Washington University. “It is important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of gout and to seek proper treatment.”
Gout flares are common in the big toe but can happen in any joint of the body. “It is important to seek the help of a rheumatologist to manage the underlying cause of gout: a high level of uric acid. Over time, gout attacks may become more frequent and severe, leading to joint destruction, deformity and other health issues,” said Dr. Baraf.