Living with Gout
While it may be hard to predict the outset of a gout attack, you can act appropriately to treat and prevent it. Adjusting to a healthier lifestyle is important. The tips highlighted below can make living with gout easier and prevent health complications such as heart disease and kidney disease.
Tips for living with gout
Reduce alcohol and food with high purine content
If you have gout, you should stay away from purine-rich foods, such as shellfish and fatty meats. Additionally, reduce alcohol consumption — particularly beer — because it can increase the amount of uric acid in the body. Fortunately, certain foods such as coffee, cherries and foods with high vitamin C content can help avert gout attacks.
Stay hydrated
Incorporate high water intake into your healthy diet. This is especially important if you have gout because being hydrated helps to cleanse uric acid away from the body and prevent the formation of uric acid crystals.
Reduce stress
Stress is one of the culprits of gout attacks and can worsen the symptoms accompanying the attack. Although it is difficult to get rid of your stress entirely, you can minimize it in different ways. If you are dealing with a gout attack, relieving stress can direct your attention on other things instead of the pain.
Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga are effective for stress. Reduced stress levels can contribute remarkably to reducing the intensity of the gout attack.
Exercise regularly
Keeping your physical fitness routine is an essential aspect of a healthy lifestyle, and may contribute to limiting the recurrence of gout attacks. It particularly helps to shed weight if necessary. Obesity is a risk factor of gout, but if you have been diagnosed with gout, maintaining a healthy weight may help avert future attacks.
Exercising is also good for stress management. However, if you are dealing with a gout attack currently, you should stay away from exercising until the pain and inflammation subside. If you have not been exercising, you should consult your doctor for advice on how to be active. If new symptoms occur while exercising, be sure to inform your doctor.
Get sufficient sleep and rest
If you have gout, sleep and rest are both important for your health. Try to get enough sleep — at least seven to eight hours every night — to manage stress and improve your well-being.
Resting sufficiently can help give you some respite during a gout attack, too. A gout attack can be remarkably painful, and movement may be almost impossible while the attack lasts. Resting the afflicted joint during the attack can give you momentary relief from gout symptoms.
Consider using dietary and herbal supplements
Many believe that certain herbal and dietary supplements can help prevent gout. Turmeric — which is used for treating other inflammatory conditions aside from gout — can help alleviate inflammation. Also, bromelain, which is found in pineapple stems, is also believed to help prevent gout attacks.
In conclusion
Gout is a debilitating condition, but making these lifestyle adjustments can help prevent the attacks and make living with gout more bearable.
Request an appointment here: https://campmedicine.org or call Center for Adult Medicine and Preventive Care at (973) 859-9165 for an appointment in our Passaic office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Gout in Passaic, NJ.
Related Posts
Internal medicine focuses primarily on the general health of adults. Internists can diagnose, treat, and manage various medical conditions. However, the most effective treatment for any health condition is prevention. Fortunately, internists can provide patients with the education, tools, and resources necessary to keep their bodies healthy and in working order.According to the American College of…
Consistency in medical care is essential for maintaining your overall health and well-being. Medical care from a reliable medical provider ensures that any existing health issues are diagnosed and treated, allowing patients to feel supported throughout their health journey. Establishing a trustworthy relationship with your healthcare providers can positively impact your health.Consistency in medical care…
Having a connection with a primary care provider is paramount for your health. These medical professionals ensure you remain healthy year-round by providing services to prevent many illnesses and conditions. These services do not always mean medications. In fact, the goal of any medical care provider is to keep your body healthy enough to sustain…
Health centers give patients access to quality healthcare to improve physical health and promote wellness. Although wellness may seem abstract, it simply means making healthy choices that put you in a position to enjoy and live life, not just go through the motions. Here are three ways in which visiting a general practitioner at a…