High uric acid levels in blood (hyper-uricemia) and gout do not mean the same thing. Some people with high blood uric acid may not have any symptoms at all while some may develop gout even at normal uric acid levels.

1) Gout is a form of arthritis and may be caused due to high blood uric acid levels. It most commonly affects the under surface of big toe joint (in around 50% people) and also fingers and elbow. Uric acid crystals get deposited in the joint fluid causing swelling, redness, stiffness and pain. Gout is only a part of high uric acid levels in the blood and Uric acid crystals may also get deposited in other places like kidney, nerves and other parts of the body causing kidney stones and organ damage but joints are most commonly affected.

2) It is more common in men at a younger age but in women it becomes common after menopause. Hormones play a part in its development and some people are genetically more prone to develop gout. If your parents or grandparents have had gout, it increases your chances of having it too.

3) Gout causes attacks of painful joints and the frequency of attacks will increase as the disease progresses. During an attack the concerned joint will appear swollen, red and painful. One should drink lots of fluids and stay well hydrated during the attack days. Also staying off alcohol during the acute attack days should help.

4) Gout was earlier referred to as the disease of the kings. Faulty lifestyle, consumption of high amount of non vegetarian foods like red meat, bakery products like biscuits, cakes and pastry and alcohol could be the culprit. Weight reduction and dietary changes will help towards normalization of uric acid levels. Increase your intake of high fibre foods like cabbage, green leafy vegetables, isabgoal husk, oats etc to increase the absorption of uric acid from blood. Also increasing the intake of Vitamin C as in citrus fruits or amla or tablets helps to bring down the uric acid levels.

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5) If need be one should take medicines to control high uric acid levels as joint and kidney damage may become irreversible after some time.