What is Gout?
Gout is an acutely painful inflammatory arthritis. It causes a painful, red swollen hot joint or joints.
It is caused by such high levels of a natural waste product (uric acid) in the blood (hyperuricaemia) that crystals begin to form. These are deposited in or around joints, typically the big toe, although other joints can be affected. This causes intense pain and swelling.
Uric acid is a natural substance produced by the body as a by-product of breakdown of old body cells. It is usually harmless and is mostly excreted from the body via the kidneys in the urine, although some is passed out in the bile.
If production of uric acid is increased or not enough can be excreted, then levels of uric acid in the blood will rise.
Having too much uric acid in the blood is not harmful or a disease by itself. Only when the levels are so high that crystals begin to form will inflammation result.
