Must Know About This

• Women are more prone to gout after menopause.
• Home treatment includes rest, elevation, ice, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce the pain of an acute attack.
• Long-term prevention involves weight management, but not fasting or low-calorie diets, exercise, and a diet which limits alcohol, meat and seafood, all foods that can raise uric acid levels.

Good to Know About This

• Gout is a form of arthritis caused by too much uric acid in the blood, a condition which leads to uric crystals settling in a joint, usually the joint of the big toe.
• Pain and tenderness at the base of the big toe can be excruciating and appear quickly.
• The joint may have very red or purplish skin around and appear to be infected.