If you’re someone who’s been recently diagnosed with gout, then your doctor has probably already explained to you that it’s basically a complex form of arthritis that is triggered by a metabolic form of uric acid. When the acid goes into joints in the body, it can result in redness, tenderness, and extreme discomfort or pain.
Although it can be hard to predict when a gout flare-up will happen, there are things that you can do to treat it from the comfort and convenience of your own home. If you’re interested in knowing what some of those proven ways are, please read on.
Drink water. No matter what your ailment may be, something that can always help to make it better is water. Gout is no exception. In fact, drinking water whenever you have a gout flare-up is one of the best things that you can do for it. The water will help to stabilize the uric acid that’s in your system while also flushing out the toxins that may be in your body. So definitely make a point to drink 6-8 (or more) glasses when your gout is acting up.
Watch what you eat. There are many studies which indicate that foods that are high in purine (such as seafood, mushrooms, liver, beer and turkey) can increase your uric acid level. This means that when you have a gout issue, it’s important that you watch what you eat. For a list of foods that actually help to treat gout, visit Body & Soul and put “foods to ease gout” in the search field.
Use a cold pack. During a gout flare-up, one of the things that you will probably experience is inflammation. If you’re not in a debilitating amount of pain, try putting a cold pack on the joints that are causing the discomfort. By applying ice to the joints for 25-30 minutes a few times per day, that should bring about some relief.
Take a bath. If you went online to research some gout causes and cures, one of the remedies that you might see is to take a bath. The key is to take one that has some Epsom salt in it. Epsom salt is proven to relax muscles and relieve pain. Plus, it also helps to improve the condition of your heart and lower your blood pressure, too. If you’d like to read about some other benefits that come from using Epsom salt, visit Natural Living Ideas and put “Epsom salt uses” in the search field.
Get some rest. Any time that you’re not feeling well or you’re in some amount of pain, it can be beneficial to get some rest. This includes when you have a gout flare-up. In fact, if at all possible, try and elevate the joint that is giving you trouble onto a pillow or some other kind of soft object. The elevation will help to get your blood circulating and the soft object will help to make you feel more comfortable. If you’d like to read more information on gout, visit WebMD or Mayo Clinic and put “gout” in the search field.