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Gout: Causes, Risks, and the Role of Diet in Prevention

Gout is not a life-threatening condition, but anyone who has experienced it knows how severely painful and disabling it can be. If left unmanaged, repeated gout attacks may lead to joint damage, tissue injury, and reduced mobility over time. Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. These microscopic crystals trigger intense pain, swelling, redness, and inflammation, often affecting the big toe, feet, ankles, knees, or hands. How Gout Develops Under normal conditions, uric acid is filtered from the bloodstream by the kidneys and excreted in urine. Gout occurs when this process fails and uric acid levels rise too high, allowing crystals to form. This imbalance may happen for several reasons, including: Reduced kidney function Changes in diet Sudden weight gain or weight loss Illness or dehydration Use of certain medications When uric acid builds up faster than the body can eliminate it, the risk of gout...