To our valued health newsletter subscribers:

If you or someone you know suffers from GOUT - a form of arthritis caused by excessive uric acid buildup in the bloodstream - then you or they need to read this special edition of our health newsletter! You will find general information into the causes, symptoms, and treatments for gout, plus links to other resources. We encourage you to share this information with anyone you feel it may benefit, or you can refer them to our online version at: http://www.aomega.com/ahs/gout/gout.htm - Thanks!

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Here are some FACTS relating to GOUT:

• Ninety percent of gout sufferers are middle-aged men.
• It is uncommon in women and rarely affects children.
• Alcohol and protein-rich foods are main contributors to gout.
• It affects mainly the big toe but can attack other joints as well.
• It can affect several areas at once causing a crippling effect.
• The disease is rare in people under thirty years of age.
• Overweight individuals are more susceptible to chronic gout.

Without warning and, for some reason, in the middle of the night, it strikes - an intense pain in a joint, most often the big toe, but sometimes other joints, including ankles, knees, elbows, hips, thumbs, or fingers. Attacks of gout can be unexpected and excruciatingly painful. With prompt treatment, the pain and inflammation disappear after a few days, but they may recur at any time.

Nine out of ten gout sufferers are middle-aged men, and about half of them have a hereditary predisposition to the ailment. Gout is uncommon in women and very rare in children. Men who are overweight or suffering from hypertension are particularly prone to gout - especially if they use diuretics to lower the body's water retention.

Gout is actually a form of arthritis; specifically, it is the body's reaction to irritating crystalline deposits in the space between the bones in a joint. In spite of extreme pain at onset, gout responds well to prompt treatment; mild cases may be controlled by diet alone. Chronic attacks of gout, however, may require long-term medication to prevent damage to bone, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, as well as deterioration of the kidneys because of excess uric acid production. Chronic gout sufferers may feel tiny, hard lumps accumulating over time in the soft flesh of the hands, feet, or earlobes. These deposits, called tophi, are concentrations of uric acid crystals that can eventually cause aching, stiffness, and protrusions. If similar deposits form in the kidneys, they can lead to painful and potentially dangerous kidney stones (a condition called urate, or gouty, nephropathy).

SYMPTOMS

• Sudden intense pain in a joint, typically the big toe or ankle, sometimes the knee.
• Swelling, inflammation, and a feeling that the joint is very hot.
• In extreme cases, alternating chills and fever.
• Usually strikes unexpectedly and may recur, but the symptoms typically do not last longer than a week.

Gout is brought on by an excessively high level of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is essential to the digestive process, and the excess is filtered through the kidneys and eliminated in urine. If the body produces too much uric acid or fails to excrete it, crystals of sodium urate become concentrated in the joints and tendons, causing inflammation, pressure, and severe pain.

Although the precise mechanism that causes gout to develop is unknown, the disorder is often associated with an injury or surgical procedure, periods of stress, or reactions to alcohol (malt liquors and wines) and certain drugs, including antibiotics. Gout may also occur in the presence of some tumors or cancers. Research shows a relation between gout and kidney disorders, enzyme deficiencies, and lead poisoning. Gout may also accompany psoriasis or anemia. Susceptibility to gout can be inherited, and repeat attacks are common if the body's uric acid level is not kept under control. Its incidence is not usually affected by climate or season.

Pseudogout, or false gout, is a similar but generally less painful condition caused by calcium crystals in the joints. More common after age sixty in both sexes, pseudogout is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, or in more severe cases, surgery followed by cortisone injections.

TREATMENTS

Of course the first order of business for any gout sufferer is to ease the pain. Clothing or other covering may only aggravate the discomfort of the swollen, sensitive joint, so most physicians advise keeping the affected area exposed, even during sleep. The next priority for treatment is to take an oral pain-killer and possibly a prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID.

After the initial discomfort is relieved, the answer to controlling gout is keeping the body's level of uric acid in balance. Even without conventional or alternative treatments to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, the symptoms of gout will diminish in a few days or possibly up to a week. All incidents of suspected gout should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Left untreated, uric acid deposits can eventually cause irreversible damage to the kidneys and other tissues.

Conventional medicines may include ibuprofen, available in both prescription and over-the-counter versions, or other anti-inflammatory agents such as "colchicine" - a medication that has been in use for centuries. Low doses of aspirin, which may have been recommended for other conditions, should be discontinued, as it can slow the elimination of uric acid. Sodium salicylate or corticosteroid injections in the affected joint, may be helpful in reducing pain and inflammation in severe attacks or chronic cases. However, steroids such as hydrocortisone can have undesirable side effects in some patients. Blood and urine tests during routine checkups will signal potential susceptibility to gout attack.

Keeping the body's level of uric acid in balance can be done through the diet and, if necessary, by one of several drugs, such as allopurinol, that reduce the body's production of uric acid. A diet that limits protein-rich foods, especially those high in purines, is a must for gout sufferers. These foods include: organ meats such as liver; shellfish and fatty fish such as sardines, herring, and anchovies; asparagus and spinach; poultry; red meats and meat extracts such as gravies and bouillon; yeast and other enzyme-producing products; and most legumes. Also, a high intake of water and non-alcoholic liquids is recommended to help the body flush toxins and reduce uric acid levels. Foods that appear to suppress the immediate symptoms of gout include complex carbohydrates, particularly from cereals, fruits, and green leafy vegetables (except spinach).

Alternative therapy choices include aromatherapy, acupressure, acupuncture, reflexology, herbs and natural nutritional products. An effective herbal therapy might include a tea or drink comprised of celery seed, yarrow, nettle, or gravelroot mixed with water to help stimulate the elimination of uric acid. Herbal teas should not be used if colchicine has been prescribed.

Essential oils can be used in cool or cold compresses to reduce pain and discomfort. For a detoxifying effect, cypress, fennel, juniper, lemon, or pine oils can be tried. These may also be used in the bath. As the pain and swelling reduce, perhaps switch to oils such as lavender or rosemary for inducing local warmth and flushing toxins out of the joints.

Some practitioners recommend a teaspoon of activated charcoal, three times a day, to also help stimulate uric acid elimination in the urine. Be aware that charcoal (an absorbing agent) may interfere with body's absorption and utilization of any other medications or supplements you may be taking. For an excellent activated charcoal product, please visit: http://www.aomega.com/lforce/achar.htm

Several authorities report favorable results in treating the pain of chronic gout by having patients eat fresh cherries, up to 8 ounces a day or more, or drink cherry juice. Similar effects are claimed for strawberries and blueberries.

CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF

- Severe pain in a joint recurs or lasts more than a few days, especially if the pain is accompanied by chills or fever; you may be experiencing the early signs of rheumatoid arthritis or, in rare cases, lead poisoning.
- Symptoms of gout increase or other side effects occur while you are taking allopurinol to reduce uric acid production or colchicine to relieve pain; these drugs may be interacting adversely with other medication.

PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES

- For a list of high-quality, premium nutritional products, that are known helpful for fighting gout and its symptoms, please see: http://www.aomega.com/ahs/gout.htm - Some products to specifically focus on include: Proanthenols Bio-Complex, Somazyme, and MSM Plus - these are very effective, all-natural products!

- Gout Sufferer Testimony see http://www.theolivebranch.com/goutt.htm
- Diet and Other Nutritional Information see http://www.theolivebranch.com/goutdiet.htm
- Nutritional Supplements and Gout see http://www.theolivebranch.com/gout.htm

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We hope that you found this report on GOUT to be helpful and we certainly welcome any comments, suggestions, or questions you might have - please e-mail them to ahs-news@aomega.com. Also, please share this information with anyone you feel it may benefit. Thank you for reading this special edition of the Archangel Health News.

God Bless You and Your HEALTH!
Sandi and Darrin Quiles

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