How to Prevent and Treat Gout Flare Ups
Gout is a sophisticated form of arthritis, one that’s characterized by the quick and severe waves of pain, tenderness, and redness – often in the big toe.
It can subside, bringing days without pain, only to be followed by another onset of attacks, known as flare-ups. There is no cure for gout, although prevention and management techniques exist to reduce the side effects of this painful illness.
HOW IS GOUT CAUSED?
Gout is caused due to too much uric acid in the blood. High levels crystallize the acid, which forms around the bone or cartilage. The exact cause can be attributed to genetics, diet, and various medical conditions.
Those with gout cannot process these crystals properly, and so they collect in the joint.
Genetics has the strongest influence on your uric acid levels, while medical conditions can also affect them, with diet far behind. For the latter, it is believed that a healthy diet, mixed with exercise, can help manage uric levels. Specifically, avoiding foods such as shellfish, red meat, and beer help to control gout.
HOW CAN YOU PREVENT GOUT?
HOW CAN YOU PREVENT GOUT?
Tart cherry juice and supplements are the more efficient methods to consume a beneficial amount of tart cherry extract. But which one is better for your overall health?
Tart cherry juice may seem like the preferred option, but most juice you’ll find has added sugars to improve the naturally bitter taste of tart cherries. Including sugar as an ingredient in the juice actually works against the naturally anti-inflammatory benefits – so this may not be the best option for those looking to reduce inflammation. Even if there are no added sugars, juice is just fructose without fiber by definition and this should be avoided. If you’re not getting the fiber you would find in the whole fruit, the benefits of juice are slim compared to a supplement.
With a supplement, you get the concentrated form of tart cherries, without the sugars, bitter taste and in higher doses. In our opinion, this is the best option.
So, Juice or Supplements?
Our Tart Cherry Extract is offered in 1500mg capsules, a higher dose that allows for the health benefits listed above. With all the time you’ll save not eating hundreds of cherries, you can play with the kids, ride a bike, or simply enjoy a walk that isn’t bogged down by pain.
HOW CAN YOU PREVENT GOUT?
HOW CAN YOU PREVENT GOUT?
Prevention is an excellent method of dealing with gout; however, if you already have it, what do you do during a flare-up to alleviate the pain? Let’s assume you are woken up in the middle of the night by an attack: first, you need to schedule an appointment with a doctor as soon as you can.
Prevention is an excellent method of dealing with gout; however, if you already have it, what do you do during a flare-up to alleviate the pain? Let’s assume you are woken up in the middle of the night by an attack: first, you need to schedule an appointment with a doctor as soon as you can.
Generally, a physician will first advise you to take some anti-inflammatory, over-the-counter medicine such as Motrin, Advil, or Aleve. Do not take any aspirin, as it can make the flare-up worse.
You can also create an ice pack for yourself, putting it on the affected area, and drink plenty of fluids while you do this. Take the pressure off your foot and elevate it so that it’s higher than your heart.
Avoid alcohol and try to relax – there’s not much else you can do until you see your doctor. Also, if you don’t have any allergies to them, consider eating tart cherries or tart cherry extracts for management of gout.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Meredith Warner is the creator of Well Theory and The Healing Sole. She is a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Air Force Veteran.
She is on a mission to disrupt traditional medicine practices and promote betterment physically, spiritually and mentally to many more people. She advocates for wellness and functional health over big pharma so more people can age vibrantly with more function and less pain.
At Well Theory, Our surgeon-designed products are FDA Registered and formulated to help people:
- Manage the symptoms of musculoskeletal pain
- Recover vibrantly from orthopedic related surgeries
- Fill the gaps in our daily diets
- Manage pain associated with inflammation