Gout is a painful condition caused by your body's inability to effectively process the uric acid naturally present in your blood. If you are suffering from gout, the uric acid in your blood forms crystals in your joints, causing sudden swelling, stiffness and intense pain. It most commonly attacks the big toe, but other joints can be affected.
Food Triggers
Gout has traditionally been associated with a lavish lifestyle, probably because some of the trigger foods are lobster and liquor. But anchovies and soda are just as risky. It's the purines in the food that trigger gout, not the cost. Eat a sensible, low fat diet to avoid attacks.
Ice and Elevate
For pain in a gouty toe, elevate the foot above the level of your heart. If you can tolerate it, a light ice pack can reduce pain, too.
