Gout is a chronic condition that can lead to acute pain and a wide range of other symptoms that can have a great impact on your everyday life. If this ailment is not properly controlled, it can lead to permanent deformity of your joints. Hence, getting proper gout treatment before the condition worsens is advisable.
Your doctor can prescribe various medications for controlling the gout symptoms and preventing the development of this condition. You are free to try some of the tried and tested alternate methods to control the symptoms caused by gout. The following are some of the important gout remedies you have to be aware of:
Diet Modification
Gout develops due to the heightened degrees of uric acid in our body. This waste product is formed in your body when it processes purines present in certain foods. So reducing the use of foods that are high in purines can help control gout flare-ups.
The following dietary changes might be beneficial for you to lower the flare-ups caused by this condition:
- Eliminate the use of alcoholic drinks, especially beer.
- Eat dairy products that are low in fat.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Avoid foods high in purines like organ meats (liver, kidney, and sweetbreads), oily fish (herring, anchovies, and sardines), etc.
- Eat more complex carbs like fruits, veggies, whole grains, etc. instead of refined carbs like white bread.
- Limit the use of meat and eat more plant-based proteins like legumes and beans.
Gout Medications
Your doctor can prescribe various medications depending on the indications and the extremity of the condition. The following are some of the common medications that are usually used for controlling gout:
NSAIDs: These drugs can be useful for reducing pain and inflammation. These drugs are available in an array of dosages. NSAIDs can cause some side effects like diarrhea, nausea, stomach ulcers, etc. Some of the common NSAIDs prescribed by doctors are aspirin, indomethacin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
Colchicine: This is one of the important drugs used to treat gout. It prevents the crystallization of uric acid. If taken in the early stages, this drug can help with pain, swelling, and other symptoms.
Other medications like corticosteroids, xanthine oxidase inhibitors, probenecid, etc. are also used for controlling gout.
Alternatives For Gout Treatment
You can try some natural alternatives for controlling the symptoms of gout. Some of them are:
- Certain foods (coffee, fruits, and vegetables high in antioxidants, foods containing vitamin C, etc.)
- Massage
- Hot and cold compress
- Acupuncture
They can be beneficial for you to lower the flare-ups caused by gout naturally.
