Gout.
Last updated Wednesday, December 22, 2004
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Incidence and risk factorsWho gets gout and why? Gout affects more than one million Americans from all walks of life.
It can occur at any age, but the first attack often affects men between
the ages of 40 and 50.
Gout affects women as well. In fact, the number of postmenopausal
women who have gout is increasing. However, it sometimes is difficult
to diagnose gout in these women because they also may have osteoarthritis,
a disease that causes the breakdown of joint tissue, leading to joint
pain and stiffness. Among the affected joints are finger joints, the
joint at the base of the thumb, and the joint at the base of the big
toe. The confusion occurs because urate (the salt of uric acid)
crystals tend to deposit in areas where osteoarthritis already has
caused joint damage, such as in the hands and feet. Is probability for acquiring gout affected by diet, metabolism, lifestyle, etc? Gout once was mistakenly thought to be a disease of the wealthy
because it seemed to be caused by eating rich foods and by drinking too
much alcohol. Although diet and excessive drinking do have something to
do with gout, they are not the main cause of the disorder.
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