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Hyperuricemia - Gout

Hyperuricemia occurs when there is excessive uric acid circulating in the blood, either due to excessive production in body or inablity to excrete enough of it. Purines are natural chemical components of RNA and DNA, which when broken down turns into uric acid. Also, certain foods are high in purines. The exact cause of hyperuricemia is unknown, it’s probably due to combination of hereditary, hormonal and diet factors.

Sinusitis

Only one third of people with hyperuricemia experience symptoms, the rest are asymptomatic. Men are more likely than women to develop symptoms especially between 30-50 yrs. of age, whereas women develop symptoms after menopause. Although hyperuricemia isn’t a disease, persistent high uric acid levels can lead to several disease over a period of time like Gout (gouty arthritis), Kidney stones, Chronic Kidney disease etc. High uric acid levels are also associated with illness like Heart Disease, Diabetes and Kidney Disease.

Excessive alcohol use, high blood pressure and high blood glucose levels, obesity, hypothyroidism and excessive physical activity are some of the risk factors associated with hyperuricemia. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and presentation. Certain dietary changes will help decrease the blood uric levels, but we must also remember that uric acid is also naturally formed in the body by the break down of purines.

A gout diet is designed to help you achieve a healthy weight and good eating habits, avoid some, but not all, foods with purines and include some foods that can control uric acid levels.

EAT AVOID
Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which provide complex carbohydrates Foods and beverages with high-fructose corn syrup, sweetened cereals, bakery goods and candies.
Drink plenty of water- keep hydrated Limit consumption of naturally sweet fruit juices
Consume lean meat and poultry, low-fat dairy and lentils as sources of protein. Reduce fat intake- saturated fats from red meat, fatty poultry and high-fat dairy products.
Vitamin C helps lower uric acid levels. Red meat like beef, lamb, pork
Cherries helps reduce gout attacks. Organ meat like Liver and Kidney
Coffee in moderation is associated with reduced risk of gout. Sea food like anchovies, shellfish, sardines and tuna
Beer and distlilled liquor. (Moderate amount of wine doesn’t increase risk of gout attack)

Homeopathy has a good scope in management of genetic predisposition and acute exacerbation of illness like gout and renal calculi. Homeopathic medicines like Colchicum, Benzoic acid, Berberis Vulg, Occimum, Urtica-Urens etc are useful in treating in acute gout and renal colic.

Customized medicines needs to be prescribed for hyperuricemia after taking patients symptoms in details. Some frequently indicated constitutional medicines are Lycopodium, Sepia, Nat Mur etc which helps in reducing the recurrent tendencies. Based on the response to treatment, homoeopathic medicines and their doses needs to be carefully regulated by an expert homeopathic physician in order to achieve long lasting relief.

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