Gout Arthritis - How To Know If You Have It  

When somebody talks about gout, a classic picture in the mind usually forms; a person with burning pain, which comes in unexpected and sharp attacks and visible swelling and redness of the area infected with gout. Gout is in fact a form of arthritis. It is referred to technically it as metabolic arthritis. However, many people in short refer to it as gout arthritis.

Whatever you prefer to call it, it is a disease that is created when there is a buildup of uric acid in your system. When uric acids are built up in the system they will form into crystals if they are not released in adequate time from the body. Normally uric acid has no problem being filtered from the body through the kidneys during urination. However, if too much uric acid is in the body your kidneys are going to overload and not be able to filter it all out.

It is then that uric acid forms into crystals. However, crystals cannot flow freely through your bloodstream. No - they find a place to deposit themselves. In this case, it is within your cartilage of joints, tendons and other surrounding tissues. That is why it is called gout arthritis - because it has many of the same symptoms of pain associated with it as arthritis does.

Gout arthritis has been around in history for a very long time. In fact, there have been references to symptoms and signs associated with gout since as early as 30 A.D.

For most people, they will first experience gout within the big toe. This usually occurs in three out of four cases. If you are experiencing sharp pains and other arthritis-like symptoms within your big toe, it is a big sign that you may be suffering from gout. Additionally, gout can be found in other joints such as the heel, the ankles, the knees, the fingers, the wrist or any other joint.

Two reasons why there would be an excess amount of uric acid in your system - too much purine in your diet, or an inadequate filtering of uric acid by your kidneys. Purine is found in highest amounts in foods with animal proteins, as well as an alcoholic beverages. The worst culprits of purine are red meats and beer.