Gout

Gout is an arthritic condition that occurs primarily on the feet, although it certainly can manifest itself in other parts of the body. It affects about 3% of the population and is predominantly a male disorder with only 5% of the cases affecting females, generally post menopause. Gout is associated with hyperuricemia which is an increased amount of uric acid crystals circulating through the blood, however, not all people with hyperuricemia experience gout attacks. Unlike osteoarthritis or the “wear and tear” arthritis we all suffer, the symptoms of gout are different in that it is manifested by an acute onset of severe pain, redness and swelling, many times for no apparent reason. Many patients will complain of a sudden onset of pain occurring early in the morni View the rest of this article