Could That Pain Possibly Be Gout?

It’s not unusual for anyone to experience joint pain at any time in their life; overexerting yourself when physically active, not warming up properly before workout routines, and being overweight by even a few pounds can put undue stress on your joints and lead to discomfort or even pain. There is some persistent joint paint however that should be given extra consideration, as it may be a serious arthritic condition called gout. What is this disease, what causes it, and what can you do to fix it?

Gout is a disease in which there is a buildup of uric acid, formed into crystals, which get deposited in the cartilage of joints or tendons, and even surrounding tissue. This causes these areas of the body to become inflamed and swollen, as with other forms of arthritis. While gout can really occur in any joint of the body, it usually attacks the big toe first, followed by the ankle, heel, knee, wrist, elbows, and even the spine. It may seem even a bit laughable to think of an inflammation of the big toe as something that needs to be taken seriously, but in reality gout is a very painful disease. It is usually accompanied by a burning sensation, swelling, stiffness, and a warmness of the affected area. Typically the patient also has a low-grade fever that lasts longer than it should. Many who suffer from gout even in its most minor form find that any contact of the affected area, such as with an article of clothing, can be excruciating.

There are many causes of gout, from genetics to a previous injury of the affected area that has left it vulnerable to the disease. Diet is also a common factor; those who eat foods high in sodium or salt content are more prone to this condition, as sodium helps to form these uric acid crystals. Many who are diagnosed with this condition are counseled to change their diet immediately and cut out all processed and pre-packaged foods, as these are typically very high in sodium content. While some have previously felt that certain ethnic groups were predisposed to gout, it is now believed that their diet has no doubt played a much larger part in this than just genetics. Also, if the body’s kidneys are not functioning properly, this means that the system is not dumping the uric acid the way it is supposed to be, causing it to back up into the bloodstream and form these crystals.

Why cherries seem to help the gout patient, no one seems to know and none of the big foundations are trying to find out. Grant money is available for drug research but not for food research. Cherries have been show to relieve the pain of gout sufferers. Cherries contain calcium phosphorus, Vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and Vitamin C. Why not give Cherries or Cherry juice as a treatment for your gout pain. It is certainly a more pleasant treatment without the undesirable side effect of drug therapy.

If you have painful spots on any of your joints at all, you would do well to speak to your doctor immediately. Gout can be treated effectively with changes in your diet, medication, and other means. There is no reason that you need to suffer with the pain and discomfort.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

David Cowley has created numerous about the relationship between diseases and vitamins. Visit http://www.dfcinvestment-team.com

Submitted By ArticleUnited.com