Gout

Gout is a very common and severe form of arthritis that affects people of all ages and races. It often starts at night and is characterized by a sudden attack of pain, redness, tenderness, and swelling in the joint located at the base of the big toe. Worldwide, the prevalence of gout ranges from around 1-4%. In western countries, gout occurs in 1-2% in women and 3-6% in men. However, the prevalence in some countries may be up to 10%. The annual global incidence of gout is around 2.68 per 1000 people. It occurs in men thrice more often than in women. Gout is increasing globally due to the generally poor state of dietary habits like junk foods, lack of exercise, and multiple incidences of obesity. Symptoms Of Gout

Severe joint pain
Lingering discomfort
Redness and inflammation of the joint
Restricted range of motion in the joint

Causes of Gout Gout occurs due to the formation of urate crystals in the joint, resulting in an intense pain and inflammation. Urate crystals often form when the levels of uric acid in your blood is high. Risk Factors Of Gout Chances are you're going to develop gout if your body's uric acid level is high (since high uric acid causes Gout). Some factors that increase the levels of uric acid in the body include: Diet: Eating foods rich in seafood and meat and drinking beverages with sweet fruit sugar may increase the uric acid level, which in turn, triggers the occurrence of gout. Obesity: Also, the body of overweight people produces more uric acid. Family history: If someone in your family has had gout in the past, you could get it too. Prevention Of Gout In order to prevent gout, the following dietary steps should be taken: Drink more fluid: Always stay hydrated, especially with plenty of water. Reduce your intake of sweetened beverages. Stay away from alcohol: If you can't, discuss with your doctor about the amount of alcohol considered safe for you. Reduce your intake of non-vegetarian food: Follow a vegetarian diet. Maintain a Normal body weight: Losing weight helps reduce your body's uric acid levels. Going beyond in the holistic approach Louise Hay, Motivational leader and empowerment coach who has done pathbreaking work in supporting HIV/AIDS patients and their families, has said that, “Illness however mild or severe is an indicator of your emotional state, caused by your thoughts and focus.” According to her, the main cause of Gout is: The need to dominate. Impatience, anger. One of the ways of healing this is through saying or writing affirmations. Her affirmation for healing Gout is: I am love. I choose to love and approve of myself. I see others with love. Read less