What is gout?

Gout is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. Normally, any excess uric acid is filtered out of the bloodstream by the kidneys and expelled in the urine. However, in some people this does not happen properly giving rise to a condition called "Hyperuricemia ".

Consequently the uric acid crystallizes into hard, needle-like shapes, which - when they are big enough - announce their existence in no uncertain way!

The inability to rid the body of uric acid tends to run in families - although this may often be because they tend to eat similar food.

Because the food you eat can have a marked effect on whether you get gout or not. Indeed, gout used to be known as the "King's Disease" and became soemthing of a status symbol, because only rich folk used to be able to afford the rich food and drink that is the major cause of gout.

Nowadays, anyone can dine like a king, which is why gout occurs in roughly 850 in every 100,000 people in the developed world. So, think about what you eat and, if you can answer yes to some or all of the following questions it will confirm you are now a gout sufferer:

* Are you a male?

* Are you aged between 40 and 50 years of age?

* Do you eat meat pretty much every meal?

* Do you enjoy kidneys, liver or other offal, such as heart?

* Do you eat many anchovies, sardines or herrings?

* Do you drink mainly beer, soda, colas and tea and coffee, with very little pure water?

If you answer "Yes" to some or all of these, it's a safe bet you have gout.

Here are the classic gout signs and symptoms:

* Swelling of the effected joint.

* Redness or discoloration around or near the joint.

* Numbness or a tingling, "pins and needles", sensation in the joint.

* Almost unbearable pain so extreme you cannot stand wearing a shoe, sock or even having the bed sheet touch the area.