The attack of gout is manifested by inflammatory flare-ups in the joints. This common chronic disease is often known to affect men more than women. What is it really ? How to prevent these extremely painful attacks? The point with a rheumatologist.
A gout attack is an inflammation of the joints due to an excess of uric acid in the blood (hyperuricaemia). “It is actually four times more common in men than in women, measures Dr. Christian Augareils, rheumatologist at the Pasteur clinic in Toulouse. Nevertheless, the risk factors are multiple and they also concern women. The gout crisis is generally nocturnal and sudden.It affects in the majority of cases the big toe which appears red, hot, swollen and extremely painful, but it can concern any joint, the elbow, the knee, the finger…
Feed ? Way of life ? We tend to summarize this disease as that of good living, and it is a bit simplistic. Indeed, uric acid comes from the decomposition of purines during digestion, but among people who suffer from gout, some are lacking an enzyme that allows these purines to be degraded correctly. Besides this, it is true that metabolic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, obesity) associated with an overly sedentary lifestyle, increase the risk of triggering a gout attack.
Stay hydrated and choose your food wisely
However, there is no question of going on a draconian diet, sweeps the specialist. I advise my patients to start by staying well hydrated and drinking two liters of water a day. Then I teach them to recognize risky foods and to adapt their diet.
For example, potatoes, green beans and tomatoes are good friends, but boiled leeks, asparagus, or spinach, which convey the image of slimming foods, provide energy. uric acid and are therefore not recommended for people with gout. This is also the case for game, foie gras and fatty fish, mushrooms, wholemeal bread or even cooked or very tannic wines and beer”, adds Dr Christian Augareils.