Causes of Gout - According to the Mayo Clinic, Gout occurs when urate crystals accumulate in your joint, causing the inflammation and intense pain of a gout attack. Urate crystals can start to form when a person has a high amount of uric acid in their blood. Uric Acid is produced in your body naturally when it breaks down purines which are found in certain foods, such as anchovies, asparagus, and mushrooms. Usually, uric acid dissolves in your blood and passes through your kidneys into your urine. However, sometimes your body produces too much uric acid or your kidneys excrete too little uric acid. When this happens, uric acid can build up, forming sharp urate crystals in a joint or surrounding tissue that cause pain, inflammation and swelling. About 90% percent of the time Gout is found in the base of the big toe.
Symptoms of Gout - The symptoms of Gout are most often acute, occurring at night, and sometimes without any warning. The most common symptoms of Gout are as follows:
- Intense Joint Pain - Gout usually occurs in the big toe, but it can occur in your feet, ankles, knees and hands as well. The pain is most likely to be worst within the first 12 to 24 hours after it begins.
- Lingering Discomfort - After the most severe pain from Gout occurs (first 12-24 hours), some of the joint discomfort may last from a few days to even a couple weeks.
- Inflammation and Redness - The affected joint or joints become swollen, tender, and red.
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