Question: Can you Die from Gout?
Answer: No. Not as a primary culprit.
Gout is a very painful condition that occurs when the bodily waste product uric acid is deposited as pin-like crystals in the joints and/or soft tissues.
The symptoms of an acute attack typically disappear on their own without any intervention within a week or so. However, if no preventative measures are taken, gout can not only continue to cause acute attacks as well as cause kidney stones, the formation of tophi, and Chronic Gout (hyperuricemia).
This disorder is typically treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs taken orally, or corticosteroids, which are taken orally or injected into the affected joint.
Causes of Gout
Uric acid is created when we metabolize food we eat and as the body’s tissues are being broken down during cell turnover. Some individuals with gout generate too much uric acid (10% of affected) and are medically referred to as “over-producers.” Other people with gout do not effectively eliminate their uric acid through urination (90%) and are considered in the medical field as under-excreters. Genetics, gender, and nutrition can all play a significant role in the development of gout. Here are some things you should know about gout:
- If your parents have gout, you have a 20% chance of developing it.
- Strangely, British people are five times more likely to develop gout.
- African American blacks, but not African blacks, are more likely to have it than other populations.
- Intake of alcoholic beverages, especially beer, increases risk
- Diets rich in red meats, internal organs, yeast, and oily fish increase risk
Death from Gout: FALSE
