Gout signs and symptoms usually come on very quickly, and within a few hours of the symptoms starting you will most likely be in a great deal of pain. It is important to understand the gout signs and symptoms in order to effectively treat the condition before it worsens.
There are several gout symptoms that are visible to the eye. These symptoms include a swelling of the affected area, the skin will turn red, and the area may be warm to the touch.
Gout affects the joints of the body, and usually these symptoms first appear in the joint of the big toe (where the toe meets the main part of the foot). Some people first experience gout in a different joint, but the majority of gout patients report that the symptoms originated in the big toe joint.
If gout symptoms are not treated, it is possible that the gout may also spread to other joints. The longer the symptoms are left untreated, the more likely that the condition will spread. So, it is important to take fast action when the gout attack begins.
Another one of the gout signs and symptoms is an increased level of uric acid in the body. This is a more subtle sign though, because most of the time you cannot notice the increased uric acid levels until the gout attack has started. Higher uric acid levels do not necessarily mean that a gout attack will occur, the gout attack will start if/when the uric acid begins to collect in the joints and crystallize.
If you suspect that you have gout, the best thing that you can do is to alter your eating habits and begin to follow a gout diet. There are specific things that you should avoid in order to keep your uric acid levels low, such as animal protein, alcohol, and shellfish.
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