If you are worriedabout developing gout, an simple way of spotting the symptoms is to look out for changes in ypur thumb.

If yourthumbis swollen,stiff, and red,it may mean you havegoutin thumb. Sometimes the thumbcan be muchlargerthan normalsize- evenby a factorof two or three! Inaddition to being painful, the thumbmay be extremely;sensitive. The slightesttouch can cause extremediscomfort. The thumbis not the only areathatcan be affected, but keep in mind

thatit is the mostcommon. Otherareaswhere goutcan show include the wrist, ankle, knee, toe and any otherjoint in the body,

If untrea, moreseverecasesof goutcan affect morethan one areaof the body. Sometimes, severalareascan be symptomaticall at once.

In unusual cases, buildupsof uricacid depositscan occur underthe skin, around cartilageand bones, and evenunderthe eyesand in the ears.

As the severity of goutincreases, moredamaging symptoms can arise. Since the kidneyshaveto work excessively hardto processuricacid,depositsin the kidneyscan leadto kidney stonesthat

may requiresurgery to remove.

Gout is a very painful form of arthritis. Gout occurs whenthere is an abundance of uricacid built up in the body. When there is a buildup of Uric acid in the bodyit can leadto thingssuchas sharp uricacid crystalsin the jointsthroughout the bodyespecially in the big toes, otherdepositsof uricacid,whichare called, tophi, thatlook very similarto lumps underneath;the skin, and the formation of kidney stoneswhichis a result froma buildup of uricacidsin the kidneys Theconditioninvolves the buildup of uricacid in the bloodstreamthatcan leadto a swelling of the joints. Usually, the initialjoint affected is the big toe,but if untrea, otherareasof the bodymay develop gout.

Gout is a disease of the jointsand althoughthe big toe is the mostcommon part of the bodyto be affected having goutin thumbcan be just as highly painful and can cause severeswelling

Fortunately, it is possible to treatgout. However,some concessionsmustbe madein terms of lifestyle if you want to be ableto manage the conditioneffectively.

If the conditionis allowed to persistmoreseverecomplications may arise,but due to advances in science and medicine it is uncommon for anyone to reach severely;harmful and permanent dangers of goutanymore,especially whenthey are eatingthe rightdiet and following healthy goutremedies.