Dehydration And Joint Pain

Content

• Extra Weight
• Decreased Excretion Of Uric Acid
• Learn To Recognize & Manage Gout Pain
• Arthritis Topics

Some of the risk factors for gout are genetic, and those are not preventable. However, many of the risk factors for gout, such as obesity and diet, are controllable. Maintaining a healthy weight and a diet low in refined carbohydrates and low in saturated fat and red meat may prevent gout.

People who develop gout likely have some genetic predisposition combined with other risk factors or conditions — such as kidney disease or diabetes — that cause uric acid to build up in the body. Excess physical activity and dehydration both cause hyperuricemia, potentially via increased nucleotide breakdown and via lactic acidosis mediated hypouricosuria [19–21]. Increased temperature may operate through a similar mechanism, by causing dehydration, and highest SUA occurs in the month of July in the Northern hemisphere. This is consistent with the observation that gout attacks most frequently occur in both summer and winter months . These observations raise the possibility that temporary increases in serum uric acid may trigger gout attacks via a pro-inflammatory effect , as does abrupt reductions in the SUA via crystal dissolution. Additionally, activation of the NALP-3 inflammasome or toll like receptor by exposure to food items such as saturated fatty acids or alcohol may also trigger gout attacks [25–28].

Extra Weight

During the post-menopausal period, women have the same content of uric acid as men of similar age, suggesting that low estrogen may have a role in decreasing uric acid levels . People with some rare genetic disorders (Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome) have elevated uric acid levels, due to mutations in the HPRT gene . Both thyroid and parathyroid disorders can result in elevated uric acid levels .

When gout is mild, infrequent, and uncomplicated, it can be treated with diet and lifestyle changes. However, studies have shown that even the most rigorous diet does not lower the serum uric acid enough to control severe gout, and therefore medications are generally necessary. “Dehydration can increase the concentration of serum uric acid in the blood.

Decreased Excretion Of Uric Acid

A special liquid called synovial fluid fills the space between bones and provides food to the joint and cartilage. A healthy, well-nourished joint is able to move without pain, but sometimes chronic stress, an injury or a buildup of acidic crystals in the joints can cause pain. On average, participants were 54 years of age and were primarily white (78%) men (89%), and more than half were college educated. Patients with specific medical conditions such as kidney disease, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, or those with a family history of gout are at increased risk. A buildup of uric acid in the body is the main cause of gout.

Learn To Recognize & Manage Gout Pain

Its symptoms resemble those of several other diseases, disorders and conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis and pseudogout. If allowed to progress, a gout attack can impact the range of motion on your toe joint. If you don’t seek immediate treatment, you can expect to notice lingering pain in your joints. It could take anywhere from days to weeks to completely go away. And, the more gout flares you experience, the longer it takes for pain to go away.

How Can I Help Prevent Gout Attacks?

Since uric acid is an end-product of purine metabolism in humans, it is reasonable to suggest that excessive ingestion of purine-rich foods causes an increase in serum uric acid. Gout is a very painful condition that develops in some people who have chronically high blood levels of uric acid, which is produced in the liver, and insufficiently eliminated through the kidney. Crystals of uric acid may precipitate in the joints and produce the gouty arthritis. Uric acid crystals can also be deposited in the kidney or urinary tract, and cause kidney stones and occasionally impairing kidney function. More than 15 % of patients with gout develop also kidney stones.

How do you keep gout under control?

Alcohol is a common trigger for gout attacks ( 36 , 37 ). That's because the body may prioritize removing alcohol over removing uric acid, letting uric acid accumulate and form crystals (38). One study including 724 people found that drinking wine, beer or liquor increased the risk of gout attacks.

In some cases, too much activity in a short period of time and dehydration can lead to a gout flare up. A patient’s age, level of pain and risk factors will determine which medications and dosage will be prescribed. Patients usually feel relief within 24 hours if treatment is started when symptoms first appear.

Keep in mind that the worst pain usually occurs within the first 24 to 36 hours. Do not be afraid to ask friends and family for help when you are in a lot of pain. Most will want to help but may feel unsure of what to do. Gout is a form of arthritis and you can have recurrent flares. Other hydration tips include consuming plenty of water-heavy fruits and vegetables, including watermelon, cucumbers, and cantaloupe. All fruits and vegetables have at least some water in them.

It also helps to check your urine--if it is dark yellow or amber instead of almost clear, drink more water. Besides losing weight, eating a healthy diet, protecting your joints, and learning self-management skills, you should also get physically active. Essential oils have also been touted as a remedy for gout due to their anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effects. You can rub diluted oils on your skin or breathe them in. If you follow this course of treatment, it’s always best to check with a doctor first.

You may be increasing your risk of gout attacks if your diet includes foods high in purines. Avoiding these foods, which are high in purines, may help prevent symptoms. Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that results from hyperuricemia, a condition that occurs when too much uric acid accumulates in your blood. Uric acid is the byproduct of the process that occurs when your body metabolizes purines, which are contained in many foods.

A person who has gout may wish to limit these foods in their diet. A uric acid test measures the amount of uric acid in the blood or urine. Some cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, can cause cells in the body to die. Uric acid testing may be part of medical care for a person who has cancer.