How is Gout Different from Arthritis?

There are many misconceptions about gout, particularly those about it affecting strictly privileged members of society who overindulge in rich food and drink and never exercise. Undoubtedly, diet and lifestyle play a large role in the onset of a gout attack, but it is not only the elderly or sedentary who are affected. Heredity has as much to do with the disease as lifestyle does; persons with a parent who suffered from gout have a 1 in 4 chance of contracting it. Since gout is caused by an overabundance of uric acid within the body, individuals with a family history of kidney issues will be predisposed to show symptoms, since it is the kidney’s job to filter uric acid out of the system. Another common misconception is that gout and arthritis are the same disease. Although gout is a form of arthritis, the causes, symptoms and treatments are very different. Keep reading below to learn about how gout differs from arthritis: 

Causes 

Rheumatoid arthritis is classified as an autoimmune disease, and while its causes have been speculated, the answer remains inconclusive. Gout, however, is known to be caused by build-ups of uric acid around the joints. If left untreated, it can lead to metabolic disease. 

Symptoms 

Arthritis often strikes the limbs, affecting small and large joints—the fingers, hands, and arms in particular—and usually affects both side of the body, rather than just one. Affected joints are painful, swollen and stiff, especially in the morning, and the sufferer will often feel ill and fatigued. Symptoms of arthritis progress rapidly after their first onset. 

When uric acid exists in the body to excess, it forms crystals which collect in the joints, damaging them and causing intense pain. Gout sufferers experience red, swollen and inflamed joints, most commonly in the joint of the big toe. Gout attacks can be so painful that they can prevent a patient from walking, or wake them up from a deep sleep. When gout strikes, it strikes suddenly and painfully, often with no warning. 

Treatments 

People suffering from arthritis will need to re-learn how to do all their daily tasks without putting undue stresses on their joints in order to keep them in shape for longer. To slow the onset of arthritis and to ease pain symptoms, pharmaceuticals like steroids, NSAIDS and DMARDs may be prescribed. 

People afflicted with gout will need to make immediate lifestyle changes in order to reduce the levels of uric acid in their system. Pharmaceuticals like steroids, NSAIDS and generic for Colchicine may be prescribed.