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• Highlights
• Introduction
• Symptoms
• Causes and Risk Factors
• Triggers
• Diagnosis
• Treatment: Medications
• Other Treatments
• Lifestyle Changes
• Complications
• Resources
• References

Gout

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of gout.

Alternative Names

Hyperuricemia

Triggers

Triggers are events or conditions that can set off a gout attack. Certain risk factors, including a purine-rich diet, are also considered a trigger. Triggers include:

• Joint injury
• Overindulging in alcohol or purine-rich foods
• Over strenuous exercise
• Severe illness or infection
• Stress
• Sudden weight loss
• Surgery
• Using certain drugs

Hot and humid weather may also be strongly associated with recurrent gout attacks, according to research present at the 2006 American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting. Such weather can cause sweating and, ultimately, dehydration, which has long been recognized as a potential trigger for gout attacks.

Researchers asked 197 persons with a recent gout attack to answer questions about the risk factors they had 2 days before their last attack. They answered the same questions again over a 2-day control period. After comparing the data, the researchers learned that the risk of recurrent attacks increased nearly two-fold when the maximum daily temperature rose from 0 - 53° F to 87 - 105° F. Risk also increased with higher dew points. Rain and barometric pressure did not affect the findings. Drinking more water and fluids when it's warm outside could help persons with gout prevent future attacks.

• Review Date: 11/30/2006
• Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital

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