Gout is a very common disease among the elderly and people with weight problems. The disease predominantly affects men and it has the highest incidence among people with ages over 50. Although gout has a pronounced hereditary character, people who follow unhealthy diets are very susceptible to developing the disease as well.
The Importance of Gout Diets
Gout is a type of arthritis that causes recurrent joint pain, inflammation and swelling. Although the symptoms of gout are usually perceived in the lower regions of the body (big toe, heels, ankles, knees), they can occur in regions of the upper body as well (shoulders, elbows, wrists and fingers). Statistics indicate that gout affects around 3.5 million people in the United States. Gout is commonly seen in people with ages over 50, rarely affecting young adults and children. Although gout can occur in both genders, the disease has the highest incidence in men.
Diagnosis and Pathogenesis of Gout
Gout is a common type of arthritis that causes inflammation, swelling and pain of the joints. The disease is caused by the accumulation of uric crystals at the level of the joints and muscular tissues. In many cases, the underlying cause of gout is high serum uric acid concentration. Uric acid is a substance synthesized during the bodys purine metabolism, having no physiological importance inside the organism. In fact, uric acid is a waste product excreted by the kidneys through urine. High serum uric acid levels are the result of either overproduction or inappropriate excretion of uric acid. The great majority of gout cases are caused by under-excretion of uric acid, as a consequence of renal dysfunctions.