5 warning symptoms of gout that you should know

Suffering from joint pain? Find out if it is due to gout, a common form of arthritis

Gout is a form of arthritis that is highly prevalent today due to unhealthy lifestyles. It occurs when the levels of uric acid in the body increase. This causes the formation of crystals of monosodium urate that get deposited in the joints causing arthritis. Usually, gout is detected after the first attack, but here are some early symptoms that can help you identify the condition at an earlier stage.

1. Joint pain: Like all other forms of arthritis, gout also causes joint pain. But, in this case the joint pain is caused by a build-up of uric acid in the synovial fluid around the joints. These crystals of uric acid cause the joints to become inflamed. A peculiar characteristic of gout is that it mainly affects the big toe or the first metatarsophalengeal (MTP) joint in the feet. The knee, ankles, wrists, fingers, elbows are also among the affected areas. Pain is usually described as throbbing or crushing. It may start at any time but is known to be particularly severe at night.

2. Inflammation: Sudden redness, heat and swollen joints are usually the first symptoms of chronic gout or gouty arthritis. Swelling and redness is seen around the affected joint. The joint becomes very tender in acute gout.

3. Peeling of skin: Sometimes the skin covering the joint becomes flaky and may start peeling. The area around the affected joint becomes itchy.

4. Tophi: The term 'tophi' describes the presence of lumps below the skin around the affected joints. These lumps are formed when uric acid crystals get accumulated outside the joints. They may even be observed in other body parts like the finger tips, ear lobes, elbow and Achilles tendon in the ankle and develop in people who have had gout for many years. Usually, these lumps are painless.

5. Fever: This symptom may be seen in acute gout attacks. Usually, an acute gout attack subsides in a few days. A subsequent gout attack may occur within the period of 6-12 months.

References:

• Gout. A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia.

Image source: Getty images

You may also like to read:

• 7 tips to reduce uric acid level and prevent gout
• Lower your gout attacks with cherries!
• Treatment for Gout
• What are the diet dos and don'ts for people suffering from gout? (Disease query)
• 9 super foods to fight arthritis
• How I reversed my arthritis naturally! (Get inspired)

For more articles on arthritis, check out our arthritis section, respectively. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.