Gout is an inflammatory condition of joints. It occurs due to excess build-up of uric acid that causes pain and inflammation of the joints. Its pain may resemble that of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Mostly it involves toes, knees, and ankles, causing pain and swelling. To control the symptoms of gout, you must keep an eye on the uric acid you consume and its serum levels. If serum uric acid levels increase, it will eventually trigger a gout attack. Therefore, you must lower the intake of uric acid. Also, if you are diagnosed with gout, visit a medical doctor in Lahore for the management of its symptoms.
Along with medications, home remedies can also help in getting rid of gout. In this article, we will discuss the home remedies that can help in coping up with gout. However, these tips are not a substitute for your medications. Make sure you take them on time, as prescribed by your healthcare provider. You can practice these tips along with your medications.
Table of Contents
Drink plenty of water
Gout is an inflammatory condition. Drinking plenty of water can help reduce inflammation. When you drink excess water, your kidneys work to get rid of it, hence reducing excess inflammation. Along with water, you can increase the intake of milk, tea, and coffee. But make sure you consume them in moderation. However, if you have congestive heart failure or chronic kidney disease, you must consult with your healthcare provider before drinking plenty of fluids as it can worsen the pre-exisiting condition.
Also, limit down the intake of alcohol and sodas. They are rich in purine- a compound that breaks down into uric acid. Hence, they can exacerbate the gout attack. Therefore, you need to limit them if you have gout.
Apply ice
If you have gout, try applying ice wrapped in a cloth on the inflamed joint for about 10 to 15 minutes. This technique may help in reducing pain and inflammation related to gout. You can also use an ice pack for that.
Stress-relieving exercises
Stress is a common trigger of gout. You must try to cut down excess stress in all cases and especially if you have gout as it can exacerbate gout. However, it is impossible to get rid of all sort of stresses, but you can practice some stress-relieving exercises like;
- Reading a book
- Going for a short walk
- Doing yoga
- Getting some time off from work
- Meditating
- Writing a diary or journaling
- Spending time with pets
Keeping the joints elevated
When your joints are inflamed and swollen due to gout, keep them elevated. Lie straight on a bed or use an extra chair or table as an extension to elevate them. When you do that, the blood flow to the joints is increased, which eventually helps in the movement of fluid away from the joints. This technique can help in getting rid of inflammation and pain due to gout. It may work slowly but, it will be effective.
Over the counter pain relievers
If you have gout, you can take over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen and ibuprofen. Along with being potent pain killers, these drugs have good antiinflammatory action which makes them effective in gout. However, you must consult with your healthcare provider first. Try to take them with food. Otherwise, they can cause gastric ulcers.
Conclusion
Gout is an inflammatory condition of joints. It occurs due to excess build-up of uric acid that causes pain and inflammation of the joints. Its pain may resemble that of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Mostly it involves toes, knees, and ankles. To control the symptoms of gout, you must keep an eye on the uric acid you consume and its serum levels. If you have a complaint of pain and inflammation of joints, you must visit a medical doctor in Karachi.