We live in a time where women are more independent and self sufficient. Contrary on the images in the past, women of today are more open minded, driven and goal oriented. In fact, gone are the days when mothers are satisfied with just being a plain housewife. It’s not uncommon to see a full time mother to also have a career or job other than taking care of her kids, husband and house.
Women of today are earning for themselves and their respective families.
With this being said, it’s unfortunate for a working mother to be diagnosed with gout. Aside from the excruciating pain and inconvenience, the thought of not being able to work for a couple days or weeks is much more alarming. This doesn’t only threaten a family’s financial stability; it also can affect the dynamics at home dramatically. For instance, gout can be a great inconvenience for a mother who rushes every morning to get her children ready for school and prepare for work.
It’s also very alarming because gout, which is a known to be more common among middle aged men in the past, is slowly creeping its way towards women. In the past years, the number of women suffering from gout has been increasing gradually. I came across with an article on healthnewsdigest.com which explains in more details the growing trend of gout prevalence among women and its negative effects on their lives. The following sections are directly quoted from that article.
An online survey conducted by Red Hot Mamas North America, Inc. found that women and their loved ones are significantly affected by very painful bouts of gout, which they consider to be chronic and severe. Respondents indicated that although the debilitating pain associated with the condition affects quality of life, many individuals are prescribed medications meant to control the condition which they are not taking.
For women, the risk of gout increases after menopause due to a drastic decrease in the production of estrogen, which may help the kidneys excrete uric acid. Gout flares occur when excess uric acid crystallizes around the joints, causing inflammation, swelling and pain. If left untreated, these uric acid crystal deposits, called tophi, can limit everyday movement and potentially lead to joint damage over time.
Quality of life is negatively affected by gout. Limits the condition puts on everyday activity (e.g., walking up stairs, executing household chores) were most bothersome to survey participants; sleep disturbances and exhaustion from gout-related pain were also cited as diminishing quality of life.
Gout affects the life of a sufferer in so many ways. It doesn’t only affect one’s physical health. It can also limit a person’s socialization. Moreover, it can even add strain in a relationship. For working moms, it can often cause serious inconvenience in her work or even on her responsibilities at home. It’s not easy to be sick and experience considerable amount of limitation during gout attacks.
With the recurring nature of gout attacks, pain will be recurring if not remedied as early as possible. Therefore, it’s important for family members to help such people in adjusting to their roles at home or even at work. Families must assist gout sufferers in coping with the demands of this gout and in terms of the treatment required.