Sleep apnea has been found to increase gout risk due to hyperuricemia, according to new research. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes the individual to wake up out of breath, and gout is a form of arthritis, which can be triggered by consuming foods high in purines. Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have now found that sleep apnea should not be ignored as a possible risk factor for gout.
Sleep apnea is associated with hyperuricemia – an excess of uric acid, which is the primary cause of gout. For the study, researchers collected data from patients from the Health Improvement Network in the UK. 9,865 patients with sleep apnea were selected along with 43,598 patients without sleep apnea who were used as controls.
Researchers then analyzed incidences of gout in relation to sleep apnea. By the follow-up date, 270 gout cases had developed. Incidence rate was 8.4/1,000 person-years for individuals with sleep apnea and 4.8/1,000 person-years for those without.
Researchers concluded that sleep apnea is an independent risk factor for the development of gout. They said in the report, “Future research should examine the potential benefits of correcting sleep apnea-induced hypoxia on the risk of hyperuricemia and gout flares.”
In an alternative study, researchers analyzed data from 525 patients studied by polysomnography in a sleep lab in Mallorca, Spain. Patients were assessed for prevalence of hyperuricemia, relationship between uric acid and sleep apnea, and the severity of metabolic abnormalities.
Patients with hyperuricemia were found to be older, heavier and have more severe sleep apnea. Furthermore, these patients had higher C-reactive protein levels, higher creatinine, higher insulin resistance and higher metabolic index. Even when results were altered to exclude diabetics, they still revealed the same outcome.
In conclusion, the study showed intermittent hypoxia and metabolic abnormalities affect uric acid levels in sleep apnea patients who do not receive treatment.
If you have gout, you know the pain and discomfort it can cause. Here are some tips to better manage and stop gout attacks when they strike.
Keep medication on hand – at the earliest signs of a gout attack take an anti-inflammatory, but avoid aspirin as it can make it worse.
Ice it – to reduce swelling begin icing the affect joint right away. It will also decrease blood flow to the area, which reduces pain.
Call your doctor – let your doctor know what is going on. They may have you go in to see them or prescribe medication.
Drink fluids – being hydrated helps flush uric acid out of the body.
Avoid alcohol – alcohol, especially beer, contains high levels of purines, which can worsen the attack.
Get a cane – using an assistive walking device will alleviate pressure.
Elevate your foot – once again this will slow down blood flow to the joint, which leads to pain and swelling.
Relax – added stress can aggravate gout.
When gout pain strikes even the gentlest of touch to the affected area can cause pain, so sleeping can become quite problematic. To alleviate gout pain while sleeping, it’s wise to keep your bed sheets off of your foot. Instead, leave your foot free from clothing and covers.
Other advice is to cut the toes off your socks, so the rest of your foot can stay warm while your toe is free from pain. It’s also a good idea to take pain medication to ease the discomfort.
Many of the tips to ease gout and sleep apnea are the same; therefore, following these tips can actually improve both conditions simultaneously.
Gout is caused due to a build-up of uric acid. Uric acid is a product of purines, which are found in many foods we eat every day. In order to control uric acid, it’s important to avoid foods high in purines. Below is a list of foods you should limit or avoid if you want to better manage gout and sleep apnea.
On the other hand, these are the foods you should incorporate to better control uric acid levels.
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