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Find out how flexible you areGout can be caused by a variety of factors such as lifestyle, diet, weight and age. Some people will always be more susceptible to the condition because of gender or genetics, so it is important to recognise what can trigger the illness and how it can be prevented. In this page, our muscles and joints advisor takes a look at the causes of gout and what steps you can take to protect yourself against the illness.
Gout is an arthritic or rheumatic condition which results in severe pain in one or more joint. The most commonly affected joints are the small joints such as in our feet and hands, and its onset is more likely in males.
Gout occurs because uric acid levels in the bloodstream are too high. If the body is unable to efficiently excrete this substance, it starts to collect in and around our joints, and turns into crystals, resulting in pain, swelling, stiffness and changes to the skin.
Uric acid is a waste product that our bodies produce every day as we break down purines. It is normally excreted by our kidneys, but if we have too much of the substance, or if our kidneys struggle to do that job, uric acid can build up in or around our joints.
As it does so, uric acid can form hard needle-like crystals which build up over the years. Initially, we don’t notice this happening, but when the crystals start to spill over into the soft lining of the joint, or cause damage to the joint, the characteristic symptoms of joint pain, stiffness and swelling occur.
There are several known causes of high levels of uric acid, or factors which increase your chances of developing the condition:
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Answer our questions and find out if your flexibility is compromised.
Find out how flexible you areAs the A. Vogel Muscles and Joints advisor, I recommend Atrogel® for the effective relief from aches and pains.
Learn moreWhile many foods can trigger gout, according to several studies foods rich in vitamin C (like oranges) could be the answer to reducing it. One such study found that the higher the intake of vitamin C, the more protection from gout.
Foods to eat to help banish goutDiscover the story of Alfred VogelNature is just about the best thing we’ve got!