United States: Gout is a name that seems to be a disease that should not exist in today’s society especially with its nickname as the disease of kings which affected such kings as King Henry VIII of England due to gluttony and alcoholism.
In fact, this date back old age disease is on the rise in some regions in the globe.
More about the news
A recently held study has reported an increase in the incidence and prevalence rates of gout between 1990 and 2019.
Elevations of gout were observed to be steepest in the US, Canada, and Australia for male and female subjects alike.
Some of the factors that researchers pointed out as contributing to the increase include obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and renal diseases.
About the disease
According to Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize, board chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians, “Gout is a common type of arthritis that can be extremely painful,” and “Symptoms include swelling and pain in joints like your feet, ankles, wrists, and elbows.”
The condition results from high levels of uric acids depositing in the body tissues. Uric acid is produced as a result of the bodily breaking down of purines, which is a chemical compound that is used by cells to form DNA and RNA.
Meats and products derived from meat have purines.
Uric acid forms crystals around joints in the body, most commonly in the big toe or knee, but can be found in any joint. When this occurs, the affected joint results in severe pain, swelling, and redness.
As per Dr. Eric Ascher, family medicine physician at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital, “These crystals do not belong in the joints, and when there is something found where it doesn’t belong, especially in tight spaces, the area gets inflamed and painful,” Yahoo Life reported.
“Even a bedsheet over the area infected could cause someone a large deal of pain and discomfort,” he continued.
Who is vulnerable to the disease?
There are things that make some individuals more prone to this ailment than others. However, gout can develop in anybody, including children.
Although it is rare, it has been known to happen, and people aged between 40 and 60 years fall prey to the condition. Gout is more common in middle-aged men and elderly men than in any other group of people.
In fact, men are three to 10 times more likely to have gout than women.
But, completely grown men and women of different ages can develop gout. Over the past 20 years, gout has risen more than twofold in women and now impacts over 3 million; however, the presentation of gout may not be the same for women.