When the crystals of uric acid in our bodies deposit themselves in the tissues of are bodies at an alarming rate it is called gout. This medical condition is the recurring attacks of arthritis and the inflammation of the joints. Those who suffer from chronic gout will have deposits of hard lumps of the uric acid around and inside the joints. This will lead to kidney stones and possibly even the decrease in kidney function.

Uric acid is the breakdown process of the purines in parts of the majority of foods that we eat. When a person’s body is unable to handle the uric acid it will cause gout attacks that are painful, as well as kidney stones, and the blockage of the kidney filtering tubules that contain uric acid crystals. There are some patients who will only have to deal with high levels of blood uric acid without dealing with kidney problems or arthritis. This is referred to as hyperuricemia.

When someone experiences an very painfult attack that is coupled with joint inflammation they are experiencing gouty arthritis or gout attacks. The joint inflammation is caused by the deposits of uric acid crystals that are in the joint fluid and the joint lining. When the joint inflammation is intense it is because the white blood cells are overpowering the uric acid crystals and releasing chemicals that are causing pain, redness of the joint tissues, and heat.

Symptoms Of Gout

The most common joint that is affected during a gout attack is the small joint at the base of the big toe. The other joints that can be affected include the knees, fingers, ankles, elbows, and wrists. During these attacks people will experience pain in the joint, swelling, warmth, tenderness, and a reddish discoloration. The tenderness can be very intense for most people who feel that even the slightest and softest thing that touches it will cause them pain.

There are times when the patient will develop a fever during more acute attacks. These types of gout attacks can last as long as a few hours or even days without or even with medication. In some of the more rare cases the attacks will last a few weeks. Many people who suffer from gout will experience attacks of gout over a period of years.