Too much uric acid or urate in the body forms crystals. These crystals get accumulated in the joints, causing symptoms like swelling, stiffness, and pain. The factors listed below may increase your chances of developing gout:
- A family history of gout
- Usage of alcohol
- Increasing age- more common in older people
- Gender- males
- Obesity
- Consuming beverages with high fructose content, for example, soda
- Eating foods rich in purines. Purines are broken down into uric acid. Foods rich in purines include meats and seafood like sardines, scallops, anchovies, trout, mussels, and tuna.
- If you have a history of:
- High blood pressure
- Heart failure
- Chronic or long term kidney disease
- Poor kidney function
- Insulin resistance
- Metabolic syndromes like excess body fat, high cholesterol levels, and high blood sugar levels
- Taking certain medications like:
- Aspirin (used for reducing fever and pain)
- Niacin (vitamin B3), when taken excessively
- Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant drug used for people suffering from autoimmune diseases or people who have undergone an organ transplant
- Diuretic drugs, which help eliminate excess fluid from the body.
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