Gout [1] is a common form of inflammatory arthritis affecting the joints, caused by excessive accumulation and subsequent deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints, tendons and other organs in the body.
This condition is mostly characterized by attacks of pain in the affected joints with associated redness, swelling and hotness. It also affects the kidneys (kidney stones) and several other organs in the body.
Studies have shown that factors like diet, some lifestyles and many health conditions can increase the risk of developing this condition. Diet is reported to be the cause of about 12% of cases of gout.
Some Risk Factors Can Cause Gout
Taking foods that have high purine content like organ meat, beer yeast, shrimp, dried anchovies, etc. help to increase the uric acid levels in the blood, and when the levels rise beyond the rate of excretion of uric acid from the body, they begin to form crystals and deposit in different sites within the body, eventually leading to gout attacks.
Excessive alcohol consumption is also reported to increase the risk of developing gout.
Medical conditions that affect the kidney’s ability to excrete toxic substances from the body can also cause this condition. Medical conditions that increase the risk of developing gout include; hypertension, kidney diseases, metabolic syndrome, obesity, etc. medical conditions like kidney failure, hemolytic anemia, psoriasis and some genetic disorders like Medullary cystic kidney disease are worsened or complicated by gout.
Some medications like diuretics, niacin, aspirin, ACE inhibitors, pyrazinamide, immunosuppressants (Cyclosporin, Tacrolimus), beta-blockers and many others are also known to increase the risk for gout.