Are You Experiencing Symptoms of Gout?

Are you experiencing symptoms of gout? Maybe you want to make sure that the symptoms you are feeling are actually gout and not something else. This article will focus on four different stages of gout.

These stages are asymptomatic stage, acute stage, intercritical stage, and chronic stage. Each has different symptoms.

First of all, gout is a form of arthritis that affects the extremities of the body. The joints that are normally affected include the feet, ankles, digits, and hands in some cases.

This pain is attributed to the accumulation of uric acid in the bloodstream that form into crystallized deposits and make their home in joints. The most common gout symptoms include severe pain, inflammation, and rub of of the joints.

Asymptomatic stage doesn’t reveal itself with any seen symptoms. However, the body has rising levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. The only way that gout could be detected at this point is through a blood test.

The acute stage of gout normally lasts between 5 to 10 days. There are external symptoms of gout in this stage. Some of them include the continued high levels of uric acid in the bloodstream, detection of uric acid crystals in the joints, sudden aching and swelling of the affected joints, joints are hot and tender to the touch, the skin looks red and bruised, the skin may also start to peel, and movement of the affected joints is really painful.

The intercritical stage is the stage between the last attack and the next one where there are no symptoms of gout.

This stage can last anywhere between 6 months to 2 years depending on the interventions that is taking place. In some cases, the intercritical stage can last even between 5 to 10 years.

The chronic stage of gout has more severe symptoms. They include: extensive deposits of uric acid crystals in joints, cartilage, and soft tissues all over the body; sores with white pus over the affected area; stiff and immovable joints; unbearable, severe pain; and possible kidney infections and stones.

Attacks can occur without any prior warming. Sometimes they are known to happen while the gout patient is sleeping. Normally there is a mild fever along with shivering. Nausea or loss of appetite could also be an indication.

Some conditions that could be linked to a gout attack include dehydration, injury to a joint, fever, consumption of foods high in purine, consumption of alcohol, and excessive stress.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for gout. However, the symptoms of gout can be alleviated through healthy lifestyles, along with whatever treatments your doctor has prescribed for you.