Gout can be extremely painful, we are constantly told nowadays to live healthier lives, and avoiding gout is one definite incentive to. Now lots of people probably haven't even heard of gout before, but for those afflicted by it then it is a serious issue that cannot be ignored. With only about 0.5% of people being affected then it is difficult to get media coverage for this disease, couple that with the fact it is not fatal then it is mostly ignored. But ask any sufferer about it and they will tell you how serious this condition can be.

Gout is caused by an excess of uric acid in your body, that then forms needle shaped crystals. The crystals flow in your blood until something causes them to catch around a joint where they start to accumulate. The crystals have a damaging effect and start to irritate the surrounding tissue. The party doesn't stop, so the tissue gets severely irritated and becomes seriously inflamed. Very suddenly, usually in the middle of the night, you have a big toe or other joint feeling like it is really on fire and burning up. The pain is abrupt, intense and liable to last for a week or more.

The pain and swelling can be debilitating for the area involved, often the toe or foot. It can mean no walking other than crutches for a week or so. The area of swelling is so sensitive that anything placed over it will be extremely uncomfortable and painful. Patients report the sheet on the bed causes great pain during a gout attack. Gout attacks, but it then subsides for a little while and returns with a vengeance another time.

If you take the holistic approach to gout, there are several lifestyle adaptations available for prevention or mitigation of gout. All of the recommended prevention methods are going to help you in other areas of your health as well. The first is maintaining a healthy weight and good fitness. Extra weight on the body can lead to increased uric acid production in the body and increased risk of gout.

Lifestyle can help your body's purification systems eliminate the excess uric acid. The easiest way to help is to drink lots of water and stay hydrated. Water is essential to your body eliminating waste well, including uric acid. Another part of this practice is avoiding alcohol, especially on a regular basis. An occasional drink won't cause much problem of a problem, but long term exposure could be detrimental.

For the food aspects of diet, there are guidelines for gout prevention. Purines are the substance that your body turns into uric acid. Wild meats and foods that involve the organs in an animal are very high in purines so they may help create excess uric acid. Some delicacies such as liver, kidney, heart, and brains should be strictly limited or eliminated for maximum gout prevention. Shellfish and small oily fish such as anchovies, herring, and sardines are on the list to avoid as well.

Following these changes will increase your health overall, not just your ability to avoid gout, and you will feel much better with more energy and vitality!