Medication, Diet, and Lifestyle to Counter Gout
As with any disease, it is necessary to be able to diagnose gout successfully before any further treatment can be implemented. This is done by looking at the different symptoms present in the patient. Blood chemistry tests are also important to detect excessively high amounts of uric acid. Fluid from around joints may also be analyzed and tested for the presence of urate crystals. Finally, x-ray scans will be able to show any bone or cartilage damage present, especially in chronic patients.
After diagnosing gout, a full course treatment would include not only alleviating the pain and joint inflammation caused by gout. It would also aim to prevent future attacks as well as any complications, such as permanent joint damage and kidney stones. The treatment process is complicated when other medical conditions are present, or of course, when the patient does not follow the prescribed lifestyle and course of treatment or therapy.
Although currently there is no single full cure for this disease, medical developments have allowed its symptoms to be relieved to a large extent and the frequency of future attacks lessened. These are accomplished through a regimen of medications, properly controlled diet, and a healthier lifestyle.
There are various medications prescribed for gout, and the actual regimen depends on each particular patient. The combination of medicines has to be made to suit the different circumstances and needs of each patient. There are two main classes of gout medication. One is an anti-inflammatory drug, usually non-steroidal, which is prescribed to relieve swelling and pain in case of an attack. Adrenocorticotropic hormones or steroids, such as corticosteroids, could also be prescribed. The other class of medication focuses on preventing future attacks, and includes allopurinol, probenecid, colchicines, and sulfinpyrazone. As with any medication, the patient should ask the doctor about any possible side effects.
The appropriate lifestyle and diet for sufferers of gout consists of reducing the intake of purine-rich foods, such as meat and seafood, caffeine, and alcohol, while increasing fluid intake to a minimum of 96 ounces daily. This diet aims to reduce the formation of uric acid, and to help the kidneys function better to expel any existing uric acid. Any excess weight should also be lost by exercising regularly so as to reduce both current symptoms and the risk of future attacks.
With the combination of medication and diet and lifestyle modification, gout sufferers can expect to live relatively comfortable lives. Patients should be careful to follow their doctors’ advice to keep their gout under control.
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