Written by Kirsty on December 22nd, 2011
Gout treatment is something every gout sufferer should consider to give immediate relief from the pain and also to reduce the risk of recurring attacks. Gout is an inflammatory disease that is classed as chronic arthritis. It can develop slowly over a period of time when uric acid has built up in the blood but once gout symptoms appear, typically overnight, the pain and swelling intensify. There are however a large number of people who have high levels of uric acid that will never develop gout or gout symptoms.
The pain is normally the most intense for the first 12 to 24 hours, although if left untreated, the pain and swelling may last for weeks and lead to more serious health issues although less sever attacks may disappear after a week or two even without treatment. Once you have had one attack of gout you are very likely to have another.
It is important to consult with a health care professional before taking any form of medication for gout. There may well be underlying health issues which caused the gout attack in the first instance.
One of the best gout treatments is to rest the affected part and keep it elevated. The use of medications such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) may be used to relieve the pain but will not reduce the risk of another attack. Aspirin is not used to reduce the pain because it can change the uric acid levels in your blood and may make your symptoms worse. Another gout treatment is the prescription drug Colchicine. Colchicine will reduce the inflammation of a gout attack. It is not specifically used for pain relief but has been known to reduce the pain. Some of the side effects include diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting so it may not be the right solution for everyone. Other prescribed medications such as Allopurinol are effective at decreasing the production of uric acid in the body. This drug is normally used in the prevention of future attacks.
Although there is no cure for gout, the best gout treatment is to take preventative measures to reduce further attacks. There are a number of foods that are known to increase the risk of developing gout, typically foods that are rich in purine.. Beer and spirits, sardines, dried beans and peas, mushrooms and all sorts of red meats should be avoided to reduce the risk of a gout attack.
Gout treatment is best discussed with your doctor. If have ever suffered with a gout attack, consult with a health care professional so you can begin a course of treatment immediately and take steps to avoid painful attacks in the future.
Source: www.newpublichealth.com
