How to Treat Gout
It can be excruciating, and many sufferers go undertreated. But you can prevent the pain.
T he word gout may make you think of overweight Victorian-era royalty with overly rich diets. But this common form of inflammatory arthritis, which leads to pain and swelling in one or more joints—especially in the lower body—affects people even in the modern era. In fact, more than 9 million adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with the disease, which occurs when the body produces too much uric acid or the kidneys don’t excrete enough.
That surplus forms crystals in and around joints, eventually causing flares or attacks. “People with high levels of uric acid can be accumulating crystals and damage to the joints for years before they have their first gout attack,” says Larry Edwards, MD, a professor of medicine at the University of Florida.
Gout is on the rise, says John FitzGerald, MD, a professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and an author of guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) about gout management.
A genetic predisposition, diabetes, kidney disease, and other health problems may increase the chance of developing it. “The growing number of people with metabolic syndrome and obesity is increasing the risk of gout,” says FitzGerald, adding that some of the treatments for the conditions mentioned above may also raise the risk.
When Gout Strikes
An acute gout attack, which most often strikes one of the big toes, is hard to dismiss. “Gout attacks are intensely strong and come on quickly,” FitzGerald says. “They manifest as a red, inflamed joint that is difficult to move or even put weight on.”
Sufferers are often in so much pain that they end up in an emergency room, so get medical help right away if you experience such symptoms. Your doctor can confirm or rule out gout by checking fluid from the affected joint for crystals and by measuring uric acid levels in your blood.
The Right Treatment Plan
Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), prescription anti-inflammatory drugs like colchicine (Colcrys or Mitigare), and prescription steroids like prednisone (Rayos) can help reduce joint pain and swelling during an acute attack or flare.
Can Diet Make a Difference?
Your doctor may recommend that you limit foods that may hike uric acid levels. That includes organ and red meats, shellfish (high in the compound purine), alcohol (especially beer), and sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.
According to the ACR, purine-rich vegetables like mushrooms and spinach should be fine, and low-fat dairy foods may help lower uric acid levels. But even with a gout-preventing diet, “most people see, at best, a modest decline in uric acid levels,” Shoor says. So if you’re on ULT, sticking to your regimen is key.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article also appeared in the January 2021 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.
