Chronic Gout

• MAKING A LIFELONG ADJUSTMENT TO LIVING WITH GOUT
• MANAGING CHRONIC GOUT.
• THE ROOT CAUSE OF GOUT
• WHO IS AT RISK OF DEVELOPING GOUT?
• FOODS THAT CAN INCREASE URIC ACID LEVELS TYPICALLY INCLUDE
• TREATMENT
• LONG TERM MANAGEMENT
• GOUT AND KIDNEY DISEASE
• LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS
• LONG TERM OUTLOOK
• WHAT DO THESE MEDICAL TERMS MEAN?

High levels of uric acid in the body is known as hyperuricaemia which could certainly lead to other conditions like gout.^2e,3a
Why does this happen? One reason is that your body might ‘make’ too much uric acid, while another reason may be that your body has difficulty getting rid of it. As a result, there is an abundance of uric acid circulating in the blood, leading to the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints. Thereafter the crystals cause the joint to become inflamed, causing pain, swelling and warmth.^2e

• Firstly, it is important to know that most often the uric acid in the blood becomes abnormally high when the kidneys cannot eliminate enough of it in the urine. Moreover, conditions that impair the kidney function include kidney disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, putting these people at higher risk of developing gout.^1j,3b
• Secondly, some medications such as diuretics (water pills) used to treat high blood pressure may increase the uric acid level in the blood.^2f
• Thirdly, consuming too much purine-rich food can also increase the uric acid level in the blood and what is more, combining a high-purine diet with alcohol or beverages containing high fructose corn syrup can worsen matters.^3d,e

• Liver, kidney^3d
• Anchovies^3d
• Asparagus^3d
• Meat gravies and broths^3d
• Mushrooms^3d
• Mussels, sardines and herring^3d
• Sweetbreads^3d

Gout is the only arthritis that can be alleviated with Urate-Lowering Therapy¹.

People that suffer from chronic gout may be prescribed a treatment called Urate-Lowering Therapy (ULT), which lowers the uric acid level in the blood. Lowering these levels to less than 6 mg / dL is needed to prevent deposits of uric acid. ^2h,3k
When the level is maintained under 6 mg / dL then it will stop being deposited into tissues and existing deposits will eventually dissolve.^3k
The benefits of this daily urate-lowering therapy are not only seen in long-term control of flare-ups but also in the prevention of chronic damage to the kidneys and joints.^5b,c
These medicines are required if you have the following:^1f,2h,5d

• Frequent, severe flare-ups (more than 2 during the same year) despite taking colchicine or other painkillers
• Damage to joint and tophi (lumps under the skin)^2k
• Kidney disease or kidney stones

High levels of uric acid in the blood are associated with increased risk of kidney disease.^2d For these people in particular, there is a higher likelihood of gout progression and development of tophi.^5b
On the other hand, taking medicines to lower uric acid can prevent progression of gout with added benefit of preventing progression of kidney disease.^5b