Dr. Sue Mulcahey's Newsletter
September 2017
www.backdoctorsue.com

Gout - Diseases and Medical Conditions
rd11.com

I've been diagnosed with gout. Can you tell me more about it?

Gout is often identified by sudden onset of arthritis-type pain that usually starts in the big toe and goes up the leg. It is caused by a build-up of a normal substance in the body called uric acid. When you have gout, too much uric acid ends up in the blood. This can result from the body producing too much uric acid or by the kidney?s inability to excrete uric acid. Gout develops when uric acid deposits in the joints, causing the pain that is so common when gout is diagnosed. Many people have high uric-acid levels without getting gout.

What causes gout?

The exact cause is unknown. Men get gout more often than women, and those with a family member with gout are at an increased risk. Heavy alcohol use (especially beer), diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, sickle-cell anemia, and kidney disease increase your risk for gout. It also may develop in people who take medications that interfere with uric acid excretion, including some diuretics, low-dose aspirin, and niacin.

What is a gout attack?

Usually the onset of pain from gout is sudden and may include fever, chills, and malaise. This type of gout attack can last up to several days and is possibly triggered by stress, alcohol, drugs, crash diets, or another illness. Another attack may not occur for several months and often seemingly occurs at random.

Did my diet cause my gout?

Maybe. Evidence shows that certain lifestyle factors are associated with gout. A diet high in meat and saturated fats, alcohol intake, obesity, and medications such as thiazide and loop diuretics are all associated with gout. While it is unlikely that any one food in particular causes gout, the combination of eating and drinking too much and gaining weight seems to make a person more apt to get gout.

How is gout treated?

No cure for gout exists, but treatment is possible. Pain management during attacks is recommended, as is treatment of existing medical conditions, such as diabetes or renal disease. Medications can help reduce the uric acid levels in the blood. Eating a healthy diet may help prevent attacks.

What should I eat to help manage my gout?

It is important to drink plenty of fluids during or between attacks. Experts recommend 8-16 cups of fluid each day, at least half as water. You also should limit your alcohol intake. It may help to limit foods high in purines. High-purine foods include:
▪ Organ meats (brain, kidney, and heart)
▪ Anchovies
▪ Sardines
▪ Shellfish, such as scallops and mussels
▪ Mackerel
▪ Herring
▪ Goose
▪ Consume
▪ Bouillon
▪ Broth
▪ Fish eggs
The following foods are moderately high in purine:
▪ Meats, poultry, and fish
▪ Certain vegetables, such as:
-Asparagus
-Dried beans
-Lentils
-Mushrooms
-Dried peas
-Spinach

Some experts suggest that you try not to eat foods high in purine more frequently than every other day in an attempt to help reduce uric-acid buildup.

To help prevent gout and during a gout attack, limit meat, fish, and poultry to 4-6 ounces/day. This recommendation is consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, not just those individuals with gout.

Food sensitivity in patients with gout varies for each individual. It is best to pay attention to what you eat before, during, and after a gout attack, and try to identify foods that cause attacks or make them worse. Keeping a food diary during gout attacks can help identify foods that are triggers for you.

References

American Dietetic Association. Nutrition Care Manual. Available to subscribers online at: www.nutritioncaremanual.org. Accessed March 4, 2008.
Mahan LK, Escott-Stump S. Krause's Food and Nutrition Therapy. 12th ed. St Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier; 2008.

Medline Plus. Gout-chronic. Available at: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/print/ency/article/000424.htm. Accessed March 4, 2008.





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1. Headaches Dr. Mulcahey is one of very few chiropractors in the nation to perform the Blair Technique, which is an adjustment that is very effective for headache pain. This is the technique that got Dr. Mulcahey well, and the reason she became a chiropractor!
2. Plantar fascitis Dr. Mulcahey recommends the same protocol that is used with Olympic athletes for her patients the foot pain.
3. Babies and Young Children
Oh yes! We adjust infants and young children all the time. Chiropractic can help with many conditions, including colic and ear infections!
4. Menstrual Cramps Adjustments can help and Dr. Mulcahey will also stretch the abdominal muscles to help relax the muscles that are cramping--it is really helpful for this kind of pain.
5. Tennis Elbow Acupuncture is a very effective treatment for many patients wanting quick relief.
6. Rib Pain When ribs misalign, the mid back will hurt and taking a deep breath is often painful. Adjusting them helps take the pain away.
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10. Sports Medicine Dr. Mulcahey was a sideline doctor for football teams for ten years and has dealt with a lot of injuries! Feel free to bring in your kids for any sports related injuries!

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Gout - Diseases and Medical Conditions
Meditation: The Pause that Refreshes
Headache Relief Through Chiropractic

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