Gout is a painful rheumatic disease that affects more than 800 out of every 100,000 individuals. Arthritic gout can occur at any time after puberty until the age of seventy-five. More common in men than women, arthritic gout can cause intense pain in the joints that can last for a few minutes or a few days. Those with gout should see their doctor to see if there are any medications that may prevent or help with the pain in case of another attack. Most people who have gout will have pain a few times a year. This can vary from person to person based on their lifestyle and heredity.

What is the cause of some of the painful symptoms associated with gout? Experts say the concentration in the blood is so high that the uric acid settles in the joints of people with gout, a leading cause of gout attacks. While the cause of gout is deposits of needle-like crystals of uric acid in connective tissue, some physicians might misdiagnose gout because of associated symptoms such as redness, swelling, heat, pain and stiffness of the joints that resembles rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions.

Dieticians who understand the cause of gout will often recommend patients flush out their systems, or dilute the uric acid, by drinking plenty of water. Since the cause of gout appears to be related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages, particularly beer, it is advisable to abstain from alcohol which may raise uric acid levels in the blood.

In addition, the cause of gout has also been linked to foods that break down into uric acid. After you understand the cause of gout, it makes sense to avoid a diet that contains shrimp, dried beans, mushrooms, sardines and mushrooms.

Research has also shown that insulin resistance is capable of causing gout attacks. Some people speculate that the cause of gout is more complicated as it may be inherited or occur as a complication of another disease. In fact, viewing the cause of gout as heredity may not be so far fetched as people who have a history of gout in their family may show evidence of an enzyme defect that interferes with the way the body breaks down purines. Scientific studies have also revealed research results that show that about 20 percent of people with gout, inherited the disease from their family members.

One simple explanation of the cause of gout may be a poor diet that is rich in purines which aggravates gout. Another cause of gout may be lead in the environment. Being overweight has often been associated with gout, because people who are overweight usually produce a lot of excess uric acid.

People with high blood pressure need to be careful of the drugs they may use for treatment as some of these pills may actually result in a gout attack. Other medications that may cause gout include low doses of aspirin, some cancer fighting drugs, diuretics, niacin and cyclosporine.

In conclusion, the cause of gout has been most definitely linked to uric acid crystals that accumulate over months or years in connective tissues in and around the joints. It's not uncommon for gout to be misdiagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis or pseudogout. Hence, it is crucial for you to approach your family doctor to find out what are the cause of your gout condition and plan an appropriate course of action.