How Do You Recognize And Treat The Symptoms Of Gout?
Gout has a reputation as an old-fashioned disease, but it’s still around and more common than you might suspect. If you’re not expecting it, the symptoms of a first attack can mimic a sprained toe or infection. Gout is more common in men over 40, but can affect younger men, and women also, especially after menopause. The first symptom is generally intense pain in the joint of the big toe. Within a few hours, the joint is hot and swollen and painful to touch. The pain may last a week, before gradually getting better. Another attack may not occur for weeks, months or years. Though the big toe is the most common place for gout to strike, it can also occur in the fingers or other joints. Gout is caused by a build-up of uric acid crystals in the joint. A doctor can determine if your symptoms are caused by gout, through a joint fluid test or a blood test to measure uric acid. You can treat gout at home with NSAIDS (Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) like ibuprofen, and by elevating your fo
