Because gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis worldwide, chances are that some of your patients are suffering from it. This ailment is caused by the crystallization of uric acid in the blood, deposits of which can cause severe joint pain and nodules in the skin.
However, proper treatment options for gout have long been disputed. In 2012, the American College of Rheumatology released treatment guidelines for the disease, suggesting that uric acid levels should be lowered to below 6mg/dL and constantly monitored. The American College of Physicians (ACP), however, suggests that a “treat-to-avoid-symptoms” approach to gout may be reasonable, anti-inflammatory drugs do not treat the underlying issues with uric acid content.
This week, in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Tuhina Neogi, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), suggests that uric acid should be lowered to below the level at which it crystalizes in the blood (6.8mg/dL).
In order to help your patients and clients control their gout, advise that they make certain lifestyle changes. By avoiding fructose, limiting alcohol, eating foods high in purine (like red meat, seafood, and organ meats), exercising, and keeping hydrated, they can avoid gout flare-ups. Moreover, apple cider vinegar helps to break down and eliminate uric acid, as it contains malic acid.
