Most people are familiar with the two most common forms of arthritis, which are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. But these are far from the only varieties of painful joint conditions.
Gout is a relatively common form of arthritis you might not know as much about. If you have gout, you go through flare-ups, called gout attacks, during which the affected joints become inflamed and intensely painful. The joint at the base of your big toe is the most commonly affected by gout, but other joints can experience the effects of a flare-up too. Those joints’ range of motion can be severely limited during gout attacks.
Orthopaedic Surgical Consultants serves the Northwest Indiana area, including Munster, Crown Point, St. John, and Dyer. The skilled team operates from the practice’s office in Merrillville, Indiana, where they provide professional care for gout and other forms of arthritis. They can help you understand how gout works and provide thoughtful tips for minimizing gout attacks.
Gout is distinct from other forms of arthritis, which can arise because of joint wear, autoimmune responses, and other joint-damaging factors. If you have gout, it’s because urate crystals collect around a joint and sometimes cause inflammation and pain. Urate deposits indicate a high level of uric acid in your system, which is a waste product that comes from purines in the foods you eat.
Because dietary factors are the main causes of high uric acid levels, reviewing and altering your diet is one of the most effective ways you can manage gout. By getting your uric acid levels under control, you can minimize painful and immobilizing gout attacks.
Our experts encourage you to track what you eat and avoid foods high in purines. If you have gout, consider limiting these common foods or removing them from your diet entirely:
A rich lobster or shrimp dinner can be a special treat on occasion. As nutritious as certain fishes can be, many of them contain high amounts of purines. Some of the worst offenders are scallops, anchovies, mussels, and sardines, but you can probably get away with the occasional salmon cutlet.
Red meats, including organ meats like liver, are extremely high in purines. To control gout, you should aim to eliminate beef, lamb, and pork from your diet. Consider focusing on white meats like fish and turkey.
In the past, experts believed you should avoid alcohol altogether to minimize gout attacks. However, more recent research suggests that beer is by far the worst offender. You can still enjoy a glass of wine as an alternative.
High-fructose corn syrup has little nutritional value. Among the concerning features, high-fructose corn syrup is high in purines and can make life with gout more difficult. Read your labels and avoid common high-fructose corn syrup options like soda and fruit juices with added sugars.
Orthopaedic Surgical Consultants welcomes you in for gout treatment and advice on building a diet to minimize purines. Schedule an appointment online or over the phone for professional arthritis care today.
