Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Gout

When your big toe makes direct contact with a bedpost, it hurts. But when it is attacked by gout, you are talking serious pain. The instigator of this agony is a chemical called uric acid. When your body produces too much of the acid or your kidneys can’t get rid of it fast enough, the excess crystallizes in and around your joints, most likely in the joint of your big toe. This buildup produces swelling, tenderness, and pain so exquisite that just pulling a bedsheet over your foot is intolerable. To make matters worse, gout offers no advance warning. One day your toe feels fine, the next day it feels as though it has been skewered with a hot poker. Flare-ups are infrequent at first but can become more regular over time. Flare-ups are also be triggered by illness, injury, or crash dieting, among other factors. Here are some tips that you can consider to adopt for fast relief.

1. Wear Sensible Shoes
   
   A minor injury caused by poorly fitting footwear can trigger a gout attack in your big toe. Avoid shoes that are too tight or too narrow. You should be able to wiggle your toes freely.
   
   
2. Monitor Your Medication
   
   Some blood pressure drugs can cause your uric acid level to rise. What’s more, some gout medicines don’t work properly if they are taken with other drugs. So make sure that your doctor is aware of all the medications you are taking.
   
   
3. Give It A Break
   
   During a bout with gout, rest the affected joint. If it is your big toe that is hurting, it is recommended to stay off your foot as much as possible and keep it elevated. Or walk with crutches.
   
   
4. Pare Pounds Slowly
   
   Because overweight has been linked to a high level of uric acid in the blood, slimming down may reduce your risk of a gout flare-up. Just don’t try to shed to those pounds too fast. Ironically, rapid weight loss may actually induce an attack.
   
   
5. Ease Up On Imbibing
   
   Drinking too much alcohol raises the uric acid level in the blood. You don’t necessarily have to become a teetotaller. The key is moderation. Take notice of whether you routinely have gout attacks after you have been drinking alcohol.
   
   
6. Hold The Anchovies
   
   You can reduce your odds of a gout flare-up by monitoring your intake of purine-rich foods, such as anchovies, organ meats, broths, and gravies. These foods raise your body’s level of uric acid and too much uric acid is what leads to gout in the first place.
   
   
7. Take A “Common-Scents” Approach
   
   It is recommended a cooling footpath to make a tender toe feel better. Add 10 drops each of the essential oils juniper and rosemary to 2 quarts of cold water, then immerse the affected foot for a good soak.

Raymond Lee is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is the Founder of Bodyfixes Group specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts." Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.