I for one think of Henry VIII as soon as the word gout is mentioned. Being an overweight, highly indulged monarch may certainly not have helped Henry avoid bouts of this painful condition.
Having never suffered from it myself I cannot comprehend the pain that it causes but I have been assured from friends and acquaintances that the pain is excruciating.
What is Gout?
Gout is a form of arthritis caused by excess uric acid in the bloodstream. Gout can result in sudden and severe pain in your joints (normally the big toe, fingers, wrists, elbows or knees. It can present with red, hot and swollen skin across the joint that has been affected.
Who is at risk of getting Gout?
- Gout is more common in men however it can run in families.
- Men are especially susceptible as they get older too.
- Women after they have been through the menopause.
- People who take diuretic medication
- People who have high cholesterol
How is Gout treated?
Gout is normally treated with anti-inflammatory medication. If the condition lasts longer than a few days, you may then have to have steroids either in tablet form or as an injection.
The NHS have also recommended the following self-help too:
- Take any medicine you have been prescribed as soon as possible – it should start to work within 3 days
- rest and raise the limb
- keep the joint cool – apply an ice pack, or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel, for up to 20 minutes at a time
- drink lots of water (unless advised not to by a GP)
- try to keep bedclothes off the affected joint at night
For more information about Gout and the things you can do to avoid reoccurring attacks of Gout, please follow the link below:
https://www.arthritisaction.org.uk/living-with-arthritis/what-is-arthritis/gout/
If you have a private medical insurance policy in place you could use it to assist in the diagnosis of Gout however, this would usually be done quite simply via your NHS or private GP. For more information relating to private medical insurance cover in the UK either as an individual, family or business please contact us using one of the methods below:
Telephone 01245 929129/ 0800 047 0127
Email: enquiries@smphealthcare.com