Prostate Restored
Photo by RODNAE Productions Pexels Logo Photo: RODNAE Productions

What are the first symptoms of uric acid?

Symptoms Intense joint pain. Gout usually affects the big toe, but it can occur in any joint. ... Lingering discomfort. After the most severe pain subsides, some joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks. ... Inflammation and redness. ... Limited range of motion.

Who is not a candidate for robotic prostate surgery?
Who is not a candidate for robotic prostate surgery?

Patients with known metastatic or recurrent prostate cancer are not candidates for robotic prostatectomy. Although patients with very large...

Read More »
What drink sends you to sleep?
What drink sends you to sleep?

10 Drinks to Help You Sleep at Night Warm Milk. ... Almond Milk. ... Malted Milk. ... Valerian Tea. ... Decaffeinated Green Tea. ... Chamomile Tea....

Read More »

Overview

Gout is a common and complex form of arthritis that can affect anyone. It's characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in one or more joints, most often in the big toe. An attack of gout can occur suddenly, often waking you up in the middle of the night with the sensation that your big toe is on fire. The affected joint is hot, swollen and so tender that even the weight of the bedsheet on it may seem intolerable. Gout symptoms may come and go, but there are ways to manage symptoms and prevent flares.

Symptoms

Gout Open pop-up dialog box Close Gout Gout Gout causes intense pain and swelling around one or more joints. Gout most commonly affects the joint at the base of the big toe. The signs and symptoms of gout almost always occur suddenly, and often at night. They include: Intense joint pain. Gout usually affects the big toe, but it can occur in any joint. Other commonly affected joints include the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists and fingers. The pain is likely to be most severe within the first four to 12 hours after it begins. Gout usually affects the big toe, but it can occur in any joint. Other commonly affected joints include the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists and fingers. The pain is likely to be most severe within the first four to 12 hours after it begins. Lingering discomfort. After the most severe pain subsides, some joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks. Later attacks are likely to last longer and affect more joints. After the most severe pain subsides, some joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks. Later attacks are likely to last longer and affect more joints. Inflammation and redness. The affected joint or joints become swollen, tender, warm and red. The affected joint or joints become swollen, tender, warm and red. Limited range of motion. As gout progresses, you may not be able to move your joints normally.

When to see a doctor

If you experience sudden, intense pain in a joint, call your doctor. Gout that goes untreated can lead to worsening pain and joint damage. Seek medical care immediately if you have a fever and a joint is hot and inflamed, which can be a sign of infection. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Email ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry

Causes

What is the number one killer of man?
What is the number one killer of man?

Heart disease Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. This is the case in the U.S. and worldwide. More than half of all...

Read More »
What is the best drink to lower cholesterol?
What is the best drink to lower cholesterol?

Drinks that can lower cholesterol Green tea. Green tea is not nearly as processed as other types of tea, which allows it to hold onto its natural...

Read More »

Gout occurs when urate crystals accumulate in your joint, causing the inflammation and intense pain of a gout attack. Urate crystals can form when you have high levels of uric acid in your blood. Your body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines — substances that are found naturally in your body. Purines are also found in certain foods, including red meat and organ meats, such as liver. Purine-rich seafood includes anchovies, sardines, mussels, scallops, trout and tuna. Alcoholic beverages, especially beer, and drinks sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose) promote higher levels of uric acid. Normally, uric acid dissolves in your blood and passes through your kidneys into your urine. But sometimes either your body produces too much uric acid or your kidneys excrete too little uric acid. When this happens, uric acid can build up, forming sharp, needlelike urate crystals in a joint or surrounding tissue that cause pain, inflammation and swelling.

Risk factors

You're more likely to develop gout if you have high levels of uric acid in your body. Factors that increase the uric acid level in your body include: Diet. Eating a diet rich in red meat and shellfish and drinking beverages sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose) increase levels of uric acid, which increase your risk of gout. Alcohol consumption, especially of beer, also increases the risk of gout. Eating a diet rich in red meat and shellfish and drinking beverages sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose) increase levels of uric acid, which increase your risk of gout. Alcohol consumption, especially of beer, also increases the risk of gout. Weight. If you're overweight, your body produces more uric acid and your kidneys have a more difficult time eliminating uric acid. If you're overweight, your body produces more uric acid and your kidneys have a more difficult time eliminating uric acid. Medical conditions. Certain diseases and conditions increase your risk of gout. These include untreated high blood pressure and chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and heart and kidney diseases. Certain diseases and conditions increase your risk of gout. These include untreated high blood pressure and chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and heart and kidney diseases. Certain medications. Low-dose aspirin and some medications used to control hypertension — including thiazide diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta blockers — also can increase uric acid levels. So can the use of anti-rejection drugs prescribed for people who have undergone an organ transplant. Low-dose aspirin and some medications used to control hypertension — including thiazide diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta blockers — also can increase uric acid levels. So can the use of anti-rejection drugs prescribed for people who have undergone an organ transplant. Family history of gout. If other members of your family have had gout, you're more likely to develop the disease. If other members of your family have had gout, you're more likely to develop the disease. Age and sex. Gout occurs more often in men, primarily because women tend to have lower uric acid levels. After menopause, however, women's uric acid levels approach those of men. Men are also more likely to develop gout earlier — usually between the ages of 30 and 50 — whereas women generally develop signs and symptoms after menopause.

Why can't you drink cranberry juice with some medications?
Why can't you drink cranberry juice with some medications?

Some research suggests that cranberry might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking cranberry along with some...

Read More »
Does zinc lower anxiety?
Does zinc lower anxiety?

Zinc. Zinc is found in foods such as beef, pork, lamb, poultry (dark meat), nuts, whole grains, and legumes. In one study, 38 people with anxiety...

Read More »

Gout occurs more often in men, primarily because women tend to have lower uric acid levels. After menopause, however, women's uric acid levels approach those of men. Men are also more likely to develop gout earlier — usually between the ages of 30 and 50 — whereas women generally develop signs and symptoms after menopause. Recent surgery or trauma. Experiencing recent surgery or trauma can sometimes trigger a gout attack. In some people, receiving a vaccination can trigger a gout flare.

Complications

People with gout can develop more-severe conditions, such as:

Does coffee affect PSA test?
Does coffee affect PSA test?

Can alcohol or coffee consumption skew results? Alcohol and caffeinated drinks are not established risk factors for prostate cancer and will not...

Read More »
Can BPH cause rapid rise in PSA?
Can BPH cause rapid rise in PSA?

Besides cancer, other conditions that can raise PSA levels include an enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH ) and an...

Read More »
How can you shrink an enlarged prostate naturally?
How can you shrink an enlarged prostate naturally?

Saw Palmetto A range of 100 to 960 mg daily has been used to treat enlarged prostate, but according to the National Institutes of Health , a few...

Read More »
How long can I leave a wet diaper on?
How long can I leave a wet diaper on?

So during the day, keep an eye on your diaper's wetness indicator, if it has one (that's the little line in the front that changes from yellow to...

Read More »