What is Gout in the foot?

Known traditionally as the ‘disease of the kings’ or the ‘rich man’s disease’, gout in the foot is caused due to over-abundance of uric acid in the body.

Gout in the foot symptoms

Symptoms of gout in the foot are due to the formation of uric acid crystals in the body which eventually store themselves in the person’s toes, ankles or into the foot as a whole. Usually, the person feels a tingling sensation and tenderness that start on the toes and make their way up the entire foot. Due to the inflammation, the foot would look red and somewhat shiny, and feels slightly painful at first and becomes severe if unattended. Symptoms of gout in the foot are common and one should not worry much about them. However, you just have to find ways to manage the pain and tenderness before they get worse.

Causes of  Gout in the Foot

Gout is primarily caused by too much uric acid present in the blood, or medically known as hyperuricemia. The exact cause of the accumulation of too much uric acid in the system is still unknown, however, there are theories formulated by researchers as to why a person suffers gout:

• A person gets gout through the genes (hereditary) of one’s parents. The parents may have a defective metabolism of the uric acid which causes its buildup in the system.

• An individual may be suffering from damaged or impaired kidneys that would result to abnormal elimination of the uric acid.

• Taking in medications or drugs that cause excessive production of uric acid may also be the culprit. Such medicines would include diuretic medications like thiazides. These kinds of drugs are usually administered to treat high blood pressure.

• Abnormalities of the blood cells in the system. A classic example of this when a person has cancer.

• There are also factors that could worsen the inflammation or the symptoms of gout in foot, such as too much intake of alcohol, obesity, sudden surgery, an injury or trauma to the joints, and chemotherapy.

These are the common causes of gout, and because of these, symptoms of gout in the foot such as tingling, pain, tenderness, swelling and redness would develop.

Treatment and Management of the Symptoms of Gout in the Foot

Here are some helpful tips that would allow you to manage the symptoms of gout in the foot:

• Avoid foods that could worsen the inflammation in the foot even more. You should stay away from purine rich foods such as sardines, shellfish, scallops, beans, and too much red meat, to name a few.

• Avoid excessive drinking alcoholic drinks. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water every day, instead.

• If you are overweight, do some healthy exercises and lose weight.

• Finally, consult your doctor so he can prescribe medicines such as NSAID’s to ease the pain, and some anti-gout medications such as Allopurinol and Colchicines.

Symptoms of gout in the foot may really impede our ability to do our normal day to day activities. In order to battle this inconvenience, taking the extra steps to prevent or manage this disease would greatly help in overcoming the painful symptoms.