Is Gout on Your Holiday Menu?
At Goldsmith Podiatry, we see an increase in the number of our Manhattan patients with gout during the holiday season. One reason for this is that what you eat can trigger an attack of gout.
Gout is caused by an overabundance of uric acid in the body. When uric acid isn’t eliminated, it tends to settle in joints and crystallize. Crystallization is more likely to occur where it’s cooler, and that’s why the big toe joint--being farthest from your heart--is the most common site of gout. If you’ve suffered a gout attack, you’re not likely to forget it. Severe pain, heat, swelling, and redness around the joint are the tell-tale signs. Gout often strikes in the middle of the night or when you first get up.
A chemical compound known as purines causes uric acid levels in your body to increase. Purines are found in several foods that are often served at the holidays: red meat, shellfish, rich sauces, red wine, brandy, and organ meats. If you’ve had a bout of gout in the past, our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith, Dr. Rosanna Troia, and Dr. Kristina Ruff, may suggest that you avoid these foods or consume them in very limited quantities.
Preventing Gout
Your diet is just one potential gout trigger. There are several others as well—some of which you can control and others that you can’t. Risk factors for gout include:
Being male, especially between the ages of 40-60--women do get gout too, however, just not often as men
Heredity
Having certain medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure
Being obese
Taking certain medications and vitamins
Chemotherapy
Surgery
Stress
If you believe you have had an attack of gout, contact our Upper West Side office by calling: 212-877-1002 to book your appointment. Our podiatrists will get your medical history and physically examine you and perform any tests necessary to determine whether you have gout. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, the foot doctor will help you determine the best steps to take to prevent future attacks.