Four Stages of Gout

People who suffer from gout symptoms know how painful the condition can be. It can occur in patients when uric acid makes its way into the soft tissues or joints. For a lot of people, symptoms may start in the big toe. However, the symptoms can also show up in several other areas and joints around the body.

What are the Four Stages of Gout? 
    
Genetics, gender, age and weight are some of the causes of gout. No matter how you contract the symptoms, it is important that you discuss your pain and symptoms with your doctor so that a proper assessment can be made of your health condition.

Stage 1: Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia
This is typically the starting or beginning of the condition. Generally, no symptoms are obvious, but the patient may have increased uric acid levels in the blood. Treatment for this level of hyperuricemia may not be required.

Stage 2: Acute Gouty Arthritis  
At this level of the condition, deposits of uric acid start to show up in the joints. There may be instances of of acute or intense pain. You may also experience swelling of the joints. Typically, the symptoms occur more at night. There are various causes and event triggers such as another health condition or illness, alcohol and stress. While these attacks may initally be few and far between, as time passes, attacks of intense pain may increase its frequency.

Stage 3: Interval Gout    
This stage relates to the amount of time experienced between attacks. Typically, when you are not suffering from an attack, there are generally no other symptoms.

Stage 4: Chronic Gout      
Symptoms and attacks generally take a long time to fully develop. It is not unusual for a patient to experience an ever increasing level of attacks over 10 years or more. However, when your symptoms reach this level, it is the most painful and stressful time period. By the time a patient reaches this advanced stage, the uric acid disease may have caused permanent damage to the afflicted soft tissue and body joints. Proper treatment may allow most patients to avoid this stage.

If you are experiencing any joint pain or discomfort, it is important to discuss all of your symptoms with your doctor or healthcare professional. They will be able to properly assess your health condition and determine if you have the uric acid disease and determine a proper treatment plan.

• Uloric Febuxostat gout drug       

Resources:

1. nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/winter12/articles/winter12pg16-17.html        
2. nihseniorhealth.gov/gout/whatisgout/01.html