Gout Causes

There are a number of gout causes associated with lifestyle, genetics, medication, and disease.

Statistics report 5 million people in the US are afflicted with gout.

Gender and Gout

It's more common in men compared to women.

Women are more prone to gout after menopause while men tend to be at a risk from puberty onwards.

This is due to men's ability to accumulate uric acid (the cause of gout) to a greater amount compared to women.

However as women approach menopause, uric acid levels tend to rise placing them at an increased risk. American Blacks are also prone to developing gout compared to other races (Asian, Caucasian, Indian, etc...)

The Main Cause of Gout

The most common cause of gout is the built up of uric acid in the body. In normal circumstances the body eliminates uric acid freely in urine.

However in some cases, the kidneys may not be able to process uric acid optimally making one more susceptible to gout.

Urate Crystals cause Gout Pain

When uric acid levels increase in the body, it leads to the formation of urate crystals. These crystals have a sharp needle like structure and tend to deposit in joints and tissues, leading to problems like swelling, inflammation and pain.

Genetics and Gout

Genetics may also be considered a causative factor behind gout. If you have a family history of gout and do not follow a well regulated lifestyle, you may be at a higher risk.

Uric Acid from Purine Rich Foods

Excessive uric acid can occur from the consumption of purine rich foods like organ meats (kidneys, liver, brain), anchovies, sweet breads, herring and Mackerel. Purines are present in small to moderate amounts in all forms of meat (poultry, fish, pork, beef, etc...)

Thus if you are prone to gout or tend to develop urates in your body easily, it may be advisable to cut down on animal protein to not more than 6 ounces of fish, poultry or lean meats daily. Additionally, alcohol should be avoided or its consumption strictly limited as it interferes with the elimination of uric acid from the body.

Alcohol Worsens Gout

If you are prone to gout attacks, alcohol should be completely avoided. However increased fluid intake (water, juice, milk, etc...) may help flush out existing urates out of your system.

Obesity and Gout

If you are overweight you may be at a greater risk of developing gout. This makes a healthy diet doubly important to be adhered to. Weight fluctuations through rapid weight loss diets may also be considered gout causes since they increase the level of uric acid in the body.

Arthrosclerosis, Hypertension, Diabetes, and Medications

People who have problems like excessive cholesterol deposits (arthrosclerosis), hypertension and diabetes are more prone to gout. Medications used in the treatment of high blood pressure like low dose aspirin and thiazide diuretics are also well known gout causes since they tend to increase uric acid levels in the body.

Anti-rejection drugs used for people who have recently undergone an organ transplant may also lead to a higher incidence of gout attacks.

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