Gout essay
Introduction
Rheumatic diseases are associated with the support structure of the body, mostly the joints. They cause inflammation in the tendons, muscles, ligaments and bones that are at the affected joint. There is a wide range of rheumatic disorders and all of them are progressive and painful. Rheumatic conditions hinder mobility because of the pain at the joints. Gout is a type of rheumatic disorder under arthritis. It is characterized by sudden pain followed by tender swelling and redness of the base of the big toe.
Discussion
Unlike many rheumatic disorders, gout has a known cause. Gout is a dietary disorder that comes about because of eating habits and it occurs when the body accumulates a high level of uric acid. Uric acid is formed when the body breaks down purines which are found in certain foods such as seafoods and beverages such as alcohol. Excessive purines translate to excess uric acid which is the cause of gout. The excess uric acid forms urate crystals which in turn accumulate in the joint causing painful gout attacks. According to Anne, Tim, Hans, Stefan, Martin and Ulf (2009), the typical first manifestation of gout is an acute episode of monoarticular arthritis at the metatarsophalangeal joint of the large toe that is very painful, starts at night, lasts around a week, and in many cases is self-limiting. These urate crystals may accumulate and cause serious complications in the future such as kidney stones.
One of the ways of treating gout is by pharmacologic therapy which involves keeping the urate levels as low as possible. It is comprised of changing the diet, resting the affected limb and using anti-inflammatory drugs. However, according to Anne et al. (2009), high doses of anti- inflammatory drugs could lead to nausea and diarrhea. For diabetic gout patients, the therapy may lead to high blood pressure, raised blood sugar and gastrointestinal side effects. Most side effects are inevitable but the treatment is usually effective.
Conclusion
In summary, gout is less complicated compared to other rheumatologic disorders. It has a specific causative agent and the symptoms are quite clear and easy to diagnose and that way, gout treatment becomes easier. With such an elaborate cause, it is easy to prevent gout by leading a healthy lifestyle.