The most effective way to stop gout flare-ups and prevent them from coming back is to learn how to make proper changes in your diet. At the office of Robert J. Landy, D.P.M., you can meet with your dedicated podiatrist who can teach you how to take control of gout once and for all. Book your gout evaluation at the West Islip or Hicksville, New York, clinic locations by clicking on the online scheduler. You can also call either office directly.
Gout causes sharp, jagged urate crystals to build up within your joints. To better understand urate crystals, you need to know how they form. Urate crystals develop when you have high levels of uric acid in your body.
This naturally occurring substance is sensitive to cooler temperatures. When uric acid travels down to your ankles and feet — the furthest points from your heart — the cooler temperatures, due to decreased blood flow, make the uric acid turn into crystals.
Understanding why you have abnormally high uric acid levels is complex. You might just have higher-than-normal uric acid buildup because your kidneys can’t flush it out quickly enough. Or it’s possible that your body produces too much uric acid.
In any case, uric acid levels tend to spike if you’re overweight, especially if you have a diet rich in purines. During digestion, your body converts purines into uric acid. So if you consume a lot of alcohol (particularly beer), seafood, organ meats, and red meats, chances are, your uric acid levels are high. Your risk of gout flare-ups increases as a result.
Gout can develop in joints anywhere in your body. But ankles and feet — especially your big toe joint — are most susceptible. A gout flare-up begins as intense joint pain that seems to come out of nowhere. You might notice that the affected joint is:
Gout discomfort is most severe during the first 12 hours of an attack. You can even experience lingering joint discomfort for several weeks.
The expert podiatry team at the office of Robert J. Landy, D.P.M. specializes in the gout diet. After helping you get through the pain of a flare-up with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroid medications, they counsel you on what to eat and which foods to avoid.
When you have a history of gout, it’s important to avoid or limit the following high-purine foods:
You should also be adding more low-purine foods to your diet, including:
This list of foods isn’t all-inclusive, but it provides a general idea of dietary changes you can make when you have gout. The team at Robert J. Landy, D.P.M. works with you to find foods that you enjoy that won’t trigger another gout flare-up.
Schedule your gout evaluation at the practice of Robert J. Landy, D.P.M. today. Book online or over the phone.
