Gout By: Patience Alley, Albert Watson, and Hunter Kimball

Explanation What is gout? The accumulation of uric crystals in the joints. What are the causes? The body produces too much uric acid and the kidneys can not excrete it What are the symptoms? Joint pain, inflammation, redness (most common in the large joint of the big toe, but can occur in feet, ankles, knees, hands, and wrists)

Risk Factors & Complications What are the risk factors? Excessive alcohol use, certain diseases & conditions, medications (i.e. thiazide diuretics and low-dose aspirin), family history, mostly in men 40-50 and some women after menopause. All due to high uric acid. What are the complications? Recurrent gout, advanced gout, and even kidney stones.

Prevention & Treatment How can you help to prevent gout? If at risk of gout, keep fluid intake high, however avoid alcohol, eat a balanced diet, limit intake of meat, poultry, and fish, get your protein from low-fat dairy products, maintain a desirable body weight. What are the treatments? Anti-inflammatory medicine, colchicine, corticosteroids, xanthine oxidase inhibitors, and probenecid.