Do's and Don'ts When It Comes to Managing Gout

All it takes is one gout attack to understand that you don’t want a repeat performance. This sentiment is shared by everyone who has this inflammatory form of arthritis, which includes nearly 6% of men and 2% of women in the United States.

Absent a cure for gout, management is the best approach, because good management can keep gout attacks from happening in the first place.

With that in mind, we turn to a team that has no small experience with gout. At Aesthetic Podiatry & Sports Medicine Center, Dr. Mariola Rivera and Dr. Lisa Shah routinely help patients to better manage gout. Here are some of the key do’s and don’ts to get you started. 

Do: Get the right diagnosis and team

An important first step in managing gout is to get the right diagnosis and have the right team in your corner. We can check both of those boxes here, and we can make sure that you have the right resources and treatments for managing your gout. 

For example, taking uric acid-lowering prescription medications works well for many of our patients, and we can set you up with those.

Don’t: Drink beer and alcohol

Gout is the result of a buildup of uric acid in your body, which can form painful crystals in your joints (usually in your big toe). Among the main drivers of uric acid buildup are foods and drinks that contain high levels of purines, and beer and alcohol top this list.

Don’t: Eat organ meats

Another major source of purines are organ meats, such as kidney and liver. Red meats are also on the high side, so limit red meats in favor of lean proteins and white meats, such as chicken.

Do: Limit shellfish and cold water fish

Shellfish and cold water fish (salmon and tuna, for example) are high in purine, but they’re also heart healthy foods. So please limit how much of these foods you eat.

Do: Eat low-fat dairy

Adding low-fat dairy to your diet has been shown to lower uric acid levels in your body, which is the best way to prevent a gout attack.

Don’t: Drink your glucose

Sodas and sports drinks contain high levels of glucose, which can raise uric acid levels. So please avoid drinks and foods with high glucose content, and sodas are among the biggest culprits.

Do: Drink plenty of water

Instead of sugary sodas, we urge you to step up your hydration program by drinking plenty of water. Outside of an attack, about eight glasses a day is adequate. During an attack, we want you to double this, as water can help the gout flare-up pass more quickly.

Do: Increase vitamin C intake

Another way to reduce uric acid levels in your body is through vitamin C. The best sources of vitamin C are fruits and vegetables, but be mindful of the sugars in certain fruits. For example, a banana has high sugar content, while oranges, strawberries, and pineapple have lower sugar. And these are all great sources of vitamin C.

Don’t: Take aspirin during a gout flare-up

If you’re having a gout flare-up, use only your prescription medications and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but not aspirin, which can make a flare-up worse.

Do: Reduce stress to prevent gout flare-ups

Aside from high levels of uric acid, stress can also increase your chances for a gout flare-up. We realize stress is abundant these days, but it's important to find ways to relax and de-stress, such as walks with friends or meditation.

This list is just a sample of a much larger gout management plan that we can tailor to your needs and lifestyle.

To learn more about what you should and shouldn’t do to manage your gout, contact us online or by phone at one of our offices in Purchase or White Plains, New York, to schedule a consultation.