Gout Symptoms
Gout is a disease characterized by impaired metabolism and the deposition of uric acid in the internal organs. Especially with this disease, the kidneys and joints suffer( the big toe is affected most often).Often, people who are overweight do not follow a diet( especially abusing sorrel, tomatoes, beans, fatty, salty foods, meat, chocolate), who drink alcohol. Also, the development of the disease can provoke the wearing of tight uncomfortable shoes. How to treat this disease with folk remedies.
This disease manifests itself in the elderly( the average age at the onset of the disease in men is 40-45 years, in women 55 years).There are a number of factors that predispose to the development of gout :
1) the presence of relatives suffering from gout;
2) excess weight( more than 15%);
3) arterial hypertension;
4) alcohol abuse.
Approximately 10% of patients have a secondary gout and develops against a background of other diseases. In most cases, diabetes is associated with gout. The disease is inherited by an autosomal dominant type. If both parents suffer from gout, the disease can appear already in childhood.
According to epidemiological studies, 0.04-0.37% of the adult population suffers from gout, 90% of them are men. It is suggested that the disease is based on a violation of the activity of enzymes involved in the synthesis of uric acid or in its transport in the renal tubule system.
There are several stages in the development of the disease:
The most striking symptom of gout is arthritis( inflammation of the joints).The onset of the disease is often manifested( first manifested) by a kidney stone disease.
Often the manifestation of the disease is preceded by prodromal phenomena: psychoemotional disorders( depression, euphoria, aggressiveness), dysuria( changes in frequency of urination, amount and character of urine), dyspepsia( digestion: nausea, vomiting, belching, stools).There are nocturnal pains in the joints. Gouty gout is accompanied by chills, fever, sweating, tachycardia, arterial hypertension. There is an extraarticular localization of the lesion. In this case, the skin, tendons, muscles, tonsils, kidneys( dermatitis, tendovaginitis, myositis, tonsillitis, nephropathy, respectively) can be affected.
The chronic stage of the disease is characterized by the formation of gouty changes in the shape of the joints and involvement in the kidney process. Kidney damage is the second most frequent occurrence of gout after joint involvement. Approximately 30% of those suffering from gout have signs of kidney disease.
There are two types of lesions in gout. The first type of lesion - urate nephropathy - is characterized mainly by changes in the kidneys, which is manifested by the unstable presence in the urine of protein, leukocytes, arterial hypertension. Progression of nephropathy is very slow, and in 17-25% of patients development of chronic renal failure is noted.
The second type - damage to the kidneys and other parts of the urinary system - is characterized by the formation of urate stones( a bowl with secondary gout).Urolithiasis develops in half of those suffering from this disease, in which excretion of uric acid with urine exceeds 1 g per day. Massive precipitation of uric acid in the tubular system of the kidneys, as well as in the ureters, can cause acute renal failure. Kidney damage ranks second in frequency after chronic gouty arthritis and is prognostically the most serious manifestation of gout. The appearance of protein in the urine is observed in 20-40% of patients, also arterial hypertension often arises.
The first type of kidney damage in gout - urate nephropathy - the primary involvement in the inflammatory process of the interstitial tissue of the kidneys and kidney tubules. This process is caused by the deposition of uric acid crystals in the parenchyma. It is noted that, the more pronounced the signs of joint damage, the less distinct manifestations of nephropathy, and vice versa, severe kidney lesions can be combined with minimal signs of arthritis. Interstitial nephritis can be complicated by infection of the urinary system.22-25% of patients with gout die from chronic kidney failure.
The second type of damage to the kidneys and other parts of the urinary system is the formation of urate stones, often preceding the defeat of the joints.80% of the stones consist of uric acid, often have a mixed composition, and in some people this is a combination with oxalate or calcium phosphate. With gout, urine has an increased acidity, which contributes to the precipitation of urates( salts of uric acid).The likelihood of kidney stones is directly related to the concentration of uric acid in the blood. Nephrolithiasis develops in 50% of patients who have a urate level in the blood plasma exceeding 12 mg in 100 ml.
By the nature of the current, the acute and chronic gout form is distinguished.
1. Increase in the level of uric acid in the blood.
2. Hereditary predisposition.
3. Arterial hypertension.
4. Alcoholism.
5. Obesity.
Common symptoms are pain in the big toe. However, other joints can be affected. Gout is more common in men. Not always the cause of this disease is the excessive consumption of food and alcoholic beverages. However, you can not escape from the well-known fact that in many cases gout attacks occur after Christmas feasts! Stress brings its own contribution.
Suddenly, one joint develops inflammation, most often the joints of the foot are affected. The attack begins, as a rule, at night. There is a sharp pain, swelling, swelling and redness of the skin over the joint. The body temperature can also increase. As a rule, the disease passes for several days even if there is no treatment.
In the chronic course of the process tofusy - subcutaneous nodules, painless when feeling. They are localized, as a rule, in the subcutaneous fat of the area of the elbow joints, calcaneal tendons and auricles.
With renal damage, urination and crystals in urine are noted.
Diagnosis of disease includes:
1. radiography of joints;
2. blood test: a sharp increase in the level of uric acid;
3. availability of tofus;
4. urine analysis: detection of urates;
5. Kidney ultrasound.
Treatment of disease should be started first with a change in diet. In the acute period, it is necessary to exclude meat, fish, poultry, alcohol, beans and coffee from their diets. After the exacerbation of the exacerbations, these products are recommended to be significantly limited. Drug treatment is carried out by special anti-gout and anti-inflammatory drugs.
The prognosis of the disease is as follows. With adequate treatment, the inevitable progression of the disease slows down. With a lesion of the kidneys, the prognosis is serious.
No specific prevention. To prevent bouts of exacerbation, you should follow the doctor's recommendations and diet.