Jakarta –
Gout is a condition that is not unfamiliar to society. The characteristic features of this disorder are pain and swelling in the joints. The painful part seems to change shape due to swelling.
Quoted from the Digital Repository of the Muhammadiyah University of East Kalimantan (UMKT), uric acid is actually part of the body’s metabolism. Uric acid is the final product of purines, one of the components of nucleic acids.
Quoted from the Pocket Book for Gout Control Cadres in the Community from FKKMK UGM, gout is a common form of arthritis that is very painful. Repeated attacks of gout can result in gouty arthritis.
As part of the processing results, uric acid is naturally found in the body. Normal uric acid levels according to WHO in men are 3.5-7 mg/dl, while in women it is 2.6-6 mg/dl.
More than this amount, there is a risk of uric acid accumulating in the joints to form crystals. The very sharp tip of the crystal will cause an inflammatory response that can lead to gout attacks.
Characteristics of Uric Acid Disease
Quoted from the Denpasar Health Polytechnic Repository and the Surabaya Muhammadiyah University Repository, the following are the characteristics of gout:
Swelling in certain jointsPain and decreased function in the joint affected by gout, often found in the big toe. Feeling hot in the swollen area. The joint looks red. Fever accompanied by chills. The heartbeat becomes fast. There has been more than one attack in the joint which is usually acute. The period between attacks can be uneventful. symptoms (asymptomatic intercritical) There is a buildup of uric acid crystals in the fluid and tissue of the joints, kidneys, cartilage and other locations. If the buildup becomes kidney stones, the patient will experience severe back pain.
The symptoms of gout will gradually disappear. After that, it does not cause any more symptoms until the next attack occurs. These symptoms can occur in the kneecaps, backs of the arms, back tendons, ankles and earlobes.
Causes of Gout Disease
Here are some causes of gout:
1. Genetic factors
One of the risk factors for gout is genetic or hereditary factors. Gout is categorized as a multifactorial disease because this disease involves heredity and environmental factors.
2. Diet
Food has a significant influence on the emergence of disease. The food we consume is interconnected with uric acid. This is related to the purine content found in the food we consume. Unhealthy eating patterns can affect the risk of gout.
3. Alcohol consumption
Consuming large amounts of alcoholic beverages over a long period of time can cause a decrease or even damage to kidney function. Impaired kidney function can cause the kidneys to be unable to excrete uric acid so that uric acid levels increase.
4. Obesity
Being overweight can be a serious problem when it causes various diseases. Starting from, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, stroke, and gout. Some gout sufferers are obese.
5. Age
Elderly people are more susceptible to disease. The decreasing physical strength and endurance of the body disrupts the working mechanisms of organs and makes them susceptible to disease.
6. Gender
Generally, people who often suffer from gout are men. This is because men naturally have higher levels of uric acid in the blood than women.
Men also do not have high levels of the hormone estrogen, so it is difficult for uric acid to be excreted through urine. This can cause the risk of increasing uric acid levels in the body.
How to Treat Gout
According to Medical News Today, here are some easy ways to treat gout:
Drink a lot of water
One way to reduce these symptoms is to consume more water. Increasing fluid consumption can encourage the kidneys to excrete fluid and reduce swelling in gout sufferers
Apply ice to the joint
Compressing ice wrapped in cloth on the joints can help reduce inflammation caused by gout. You can compress the painful area with ice cubes for 20 minutes to relieve pain.
Reduce stress
Stress can worsen gout symptoms. You can get enough rest, exercise, or meditate to reduce stress.
Elevates the joints affected by gout
Gout can cause pain and swelling, especially in the feet, hands, knees and ankles. One way to reduce swelling is to elevate the painful joint. This is to encourage blood and fluid to move away from the joint.
Taking over-the-counter pain medication
Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs may be able to treat the pain and swelling caused by gout. However, you should not consume more than the recommended dose.
This is an explanation of the characteristics of gout and how to deal with it. Hope it is useful.
Watch the video “Tips to avoid getting lower back pain when WFH”
(row/row)
2023-10-28 23:30:00
#Characteristics #Gout #Disorder #Characterized #Pain #Swelling #Joints
