The holiday season blitz is upon us! Between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year, people are out and about buying extra food, picking up gifts, and attending parties of all kinds. All this cheer and busyness can be interrupted, however, by an attack of gout. You wouldn’t want to be woken in the middle of the night with hot, swollen, and painful toe joints when you have a long day of work and seasonal preparation ahead of you.
Gout strikes suddenly, usually at night, causing intense tenderness and pain in the area it affects. Most frequently it occurs in the first joint of the big toe, though it can develop in any of the others. It is caused by a build-up of urate crystals in the joint, which inflame the tissues. This happens when the levels of uric acid in your blood are elevated.
If you know you are susceptible to this special kind of arthritis, you can take simple steps to prevent its occurrence this holiday season. Drink plenty of water every day—between 8 to 16 cups is recommended—to keep the levels of uric acid, which cause the crystal deposits, low. Avoid alcohol and drinks with high fructose corn syrup sweeteners. Maintain a healthy diet, too, eating more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Limit your meats, especially red meat, and choose low-fat dairy products for your protein.
If you do have a painful outbreak this year, remember that early treatment is the most successful for eliminating pain. Dr. Noah Levine can help you choose the most effective medicines to deal with your discomfort quickly, and help prevent its spread to more joints. Don’t let gout interrupt and ruin your holiday season. Instead, contact Absolute Foot Care Specialists in Las Vegas for an appointment or more information. You can reach our offices by visiting the online contact page, or call (702) 839-2010.
