Disease in lower extremities – Gout

Gout. Gout, nearly always found in the male sex, is a disease of later years which differs markedly from arthritis. It is the result of too much uric acid in the blood, and nearly always at-

Fig. 138. Gout is a disease of men, usually in their senior years. Caused by an excessively high level of uric acid in the bloodstream, it generally affects the joint of the great toe. It is readily prevented through diet and certain medications.

tacks just one joint, usually, the great toe. Beginning suddenly, the joint grows very red and swollen, and becomes very painful for about a week to ten days. The attack will subside, but will recur again and again, if left untreated.

Gout is easily recognized by the physician, and can be confirmed by simple blood tests. Usually it is easily prevented through the proper diet, which eliminates elements classed as purines. These foods include wines, certain fish, meats prepared from lamb and whole grain raw cereal.

The physician’s identification of these offending food elements in gout, and their elimination from the diet, gives most satisfactory results in relief from further gout difficulties.