How to Identify Gout

Gout is a joint condition also known as metabolic arthritis. It can cause serious pain and discomfort in joints all over the body, and is caused by deposits of monosodium urate, or uric acid crystals, on tendons, joints and their surrounding tissues. Gout was noticed all the way back in 30 A.D., so it has been a problem for a long time. Taking a few basic steps to notice the signs of gout can help to catch the condition early before it becomes too severe or chronic.

Instructions

• 1

  Keep track of any night attacks. Night attacks are usually the first sign of having gout. Most people with gout will start waking up in the middle of the night with pain that is localized in a specific area. This can appear in many parts of the body, including fingers, spine, wrists, heels, elbows, ankles and knees.

• 2

  Keep track of your body temperature. Often, a fever can be felt all over the body when someone has gout. Sometimes, however, the fever will be localized in the affected joint. The temperature could be only slightly elevated (up to 99.5 degrees F), but it should be noticeable.

• 3

  Pay attention to the color of the painful joint. If the area around the joint is red, then it might be gout. The area might also swell up. There are many conditions that cause redness and swelling in joints, but if this coincides with other gout symptoms, it may be a good idea to get checked out by a doctor for gout. The reddening, of course, will probably coincide with severe joint pain. If you cannot remember injuring your joint, but it hurts and is red, it could be gout.

• 4

  Pay attention to some preconditions of gout. If you consume a lot of alcohol, there is a good chance you could get gout. Not eating enough fruits and berries have also been linked to having gout. A serious lack of physical activity can also be a contributing factor to getting gout. If you have any of these preconditions along with localized pain and redness, then there is a good chance you could have gout. African Americans and Pacific Islanders are also more likely to get gout than other races, but it is unknown if this is due to diet or genetics.

• 5

  Check your heart rate. Gout often causes an increase in a person's heart rate during a gout attack. A person having a gout attack may have a heart rate of over 100 beats per minute (BPM). To check your heart rate, place your middle and index finger on your neck either to the left or right of your esophagus. Either count your heart beat for 1 minute, or count it for 10 seconds and then multiply it by 6.

• 6

  Pay attention to your energy level. Gout often causes lethargy and fatigue, which could be due to the increase in heart rate. Once again, this symptom can occur in many conditions, but if it accompanies a swollen, painful and red joint, there is a good chance it could be gout.