Gout - what kind of disease and which doctor to contact - information for patients

The main symptoms of gout, treatment and prevention

Gout is a disease of the joints, which is characterized by metabolic disorders and salt deposition. The main symptom of gout is an attack of gouty arthritis. This disease is one of the oldest, it was mentioned by Hippocrates (at that time it was called "disease of kings"). Men after 40 years of age are most often affected. Symptoms of gout in women are diagnosed extremely rarely.

Provocative factors:

genetic predisposition;
male gender and age over 40;
moderate and severe obesity;
uncontrolled intake of medicines;
excessive consumption of alcohol and fatty food.

The main cause of gout is a persistently elevated level of uric acid. During the development of the disease, uric acid crystals are deposited in the joints, which leads to their partial or complete destruction.

Pain in gouty joints - clinical manifestations

Depending on the development of the disease, asymptomatic gout and acute gouty arthritis are distinguished. In the first case, the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints does not manifest itself. This condition lasts for years and only 20% of patients can lead to true gout.

Clinical manifestations of acute gouty arthritis:

presence of swelling in the joint area;
redness of the joint;
acute joint pain in gout that occurs at night (or morning);
subfebrile body temperature;
deterioration of the general condition, apathy, loss of appetite.

In the initial period, the pain occurs, as a rule, in one joint (big toe or hand), but over time, the pathology "grabs" neighboring joints. Attacks of acute gouty arthritis can last from several days to several weeks. Without timely diagnosis and qualified treatment, symptoms begin to appear more and more often. A gradual reduction in the time between attacks is an alarming symptom that signals the transition of the disease into a chronic form. The doctor will tell you how to relieve gout exacerbations quickly and effectively at a personal appointment.

Manifestations of gout in men

Gout is a chronic disease that is almost impossible to cure. The disease can develop rapidly or drag on for years. Everything depends on the general condition of the patient and his lifestyle.

As mentioned above, men are diagnosed with gout three times more often than women. A rheumatologist treats gout in men. After diagnostic measures, taking an anamnesis and examining the patient, the doctor will prescribe a course of drug therapy and monitor its implementation.

On our website Dobrobut.com, you can make an appointment for a consultation and get an answer to the question "gout - what kind of disease is it and which doctor should I contact".

Treatment of gout

In order for the treatment to bring maximum benefit, it is necessary to change the lifestyle and follow the diet. High-quality diagnosis and compliance with the rheumatologist's prescriptions will allow you to control the disease and minimize acute attacks. In addition, timely medication for gout attacks will help to avoid serious complications. Read more about the possible consequences of the disease in the next section.

Drug therapy for gout of the thumb is aimed at reducing the level of uric acid in the body and reducing inflammation with acute pain syndrome. In the first case, the doctor can prescribe the following drugs: allopurinol, orotic acid, thiopurinol, hepatocatazal or milurit. To solve the second point, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are most often prescribed: diclofenac, butadione, indomethacin, and naproxen.

Gout of the thumb: how to prevent an attack

The following recommendations will help prevent attacks of acute gouty arthritis.

Preventive measures:

regular performance of a physical therapy complex;
daily consumption of at least 2 liters of water;
rejection of carbonated drinks and powdered juices;
strict adherence to a diet with gout and increased uric acid;
strict control over the use of aspirin;
control of the level of uric acid in the body;
periodic fixation of the diseased joint in an elevated state;
rejection of fatty and smoked food.

During the consultation, the doctor will tell you about which foods you should not eat when you have gout. We also recommend studying traditional medicine recipes that will help prolong the remission period.

Symptoms of gout and possible complications

Tophus are nodules that form under the skin in the area of joint inflammation. They can appear in the area of the fingers, feet, elbows and Achilles tendon. Over time, these nodules begin to corrode the bone from the inside.

Deformation of the big toe. Without proper treatment, gout can lead to a pathological process in the adjacent joints (knee, ankle). Read more about how to treat gout on the legs at home.

At a severe stage, the development of phlebitis is possible. Also among the frequent complications of gout is urolithiasis.

How to treat gout at home

The main treatment of the disease is drug therapy and diet. Folk medicine, physical therapy, and physical therapy are among the auxiliary methods that are prescribed, as a rule, during the period of remission.

Taking into account the causes of gout in the hands and the results of laboratory tests, the doctor will prescribe a medication course of treatment with mandatory use of auxiliary therapy.

If you have any questions and need a personal consultation of a specialist, contact our clinic. Consultations are conducted by doctors with many years of experience. You can make an appointment on the website and at the above numbers.