Gout What is Gout? Gout is a disease characterized by the increase of uric acid in the blood causing severe attacks of pain, redness and tenderness in joints, often the joint at the base of the big toe as a result from an overload of uric acid in the body. This overload of uric acid leads to the formation of tiny crystals of urate that deposit in tissues of the body, especially the joints. Normally, uric acid dissolves in your blood and passes through your kidneys into your urine. But sometimes your body either produces too much uric acid or your kidneys excrete too little uric acid. When this happens, uric acid can build up, forming sharp, needle-like urate crystals in a joint or surrounding tissue that cause pain, inflammation and swelling. Chronic gout can also lead to deposits of hard lumps of uric acid in the tissues, particularly in and around the joints and may cause joint destruction, decreased kidney function, and kidney stones. It is considered a chronic and progressive disease and can affect anyone. Men are more likely to get gout, but women become increasingly susceptible to gout after menopause. Symptoms The first symptom of gouty arthritis is typically the sudden onset of a hot, red, swollen joint. The most common joint involved is at the base of the big toe, but almost any joint can be involved. The signs and symptoms of gout are almost always acute, occurring suddenly — often at night — and without warning. They include:
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