Flare ups in your big toe can lead you to believe that you have Gout. Gout does mostly occur in the joint around the big toe, but it can cause pain in other joints as well.
Causes of Gout
Gout is caused by the body being unable to eliminate uric acids. When uric acid stays in the body, it crystalizes around joints causing inflammation and pain. There are many factors to gout, some you can control and some you can’t.
Factors Out of Your Control
- Age
As you get older in age, the more likely you are to develop gout.
- Sex
According to arthritis.org, men are four times more likely than women to develop gout.
- Genetics
The genetic code of some can make it more difficult to get rid of uric acid and may naturally have higher levels of uric acid.
Factors That You Can Control
- Diet
Eating a diet high in Purine, can cause gout to flare up. Avoid most meats and lean toward eating more vegetables. For more information and detailed list of foods to avoid check out this healthline.com blog.
- Obesity
Obesity can cause acute gout flare ups and is a risk factor for developing chronic gout. Lessening the weight on joints can help alleviate joint pain.
- Alcohol
Drinking alcohol will cause the kidneys to focus on removing alcohol from the body instead of uric acid.
- Avoid Sugar
Sugar is known to cause higher amounts of uric acid to stay in the body.
Tips for Preventing Gout Flare Ups
Exercising and eating a healthy all around diet can help limit the intensity and occurrence of gout flares ups. Here are some helpful tips to get you started on controlling gout:
- Exercising at least 150 minutes a week will help minimize weight gain.
- Limit sugar intake by avoiding energy drinks, fruit juice, and sodas.
· Add at least one vegetable and fruit to every meal to eat less meat
