The one thing that everyone who is having a gout attack or flare-up wants to know is how to end the agony as soon as possible.
The lower extremities are most frequently affected by inflammatory arthritis known as gout, which can cause redness, swelling, soreness, and pain in the affected tissues and joints.
Pain is brought on by an accumulation of uric acid, a normal metabolic byproduct, in the bloodstream, which crystallizes and gathers in the soft tissues of joints.
The body needs a variety of essential nutrients and components to consistently perform at its highest level.
Gout is brought on by the body producing too much uric acid. It cannot be completely cured. Instead, it can only be managed with a doctor’s guidance and a few self-help techniques.
Though gout can affect any joint, big toes, feet, ankles, and knees are the joints most frequently affected.
The symptoms can also include a slight fever and warm-to-the-touch joints and it might last for a few days or even weeks.
Even though the majority of gout attacks go away on their own in a week or two without medication, anti-inflammatory prescription drugs can significantly quicken the healing process and lessen pain.
This means that you should act quickly and take the medication your doctor has prescribed if you have had gout before and you notice the symptoms of an attack.
Here are some of the best home remedies for gout-
Lemon Juice
According to a study, lemon juice may help in reducing uric acid levels and may help gout sufferers with their uric acid levels.
For gout relief, one can also add half a lemon, two teaspoons of turmeric, and one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of warm water. You can take this remedy up to three times per day.
Baking Soda
You need to reconsider your assumptions if you believed that baking soda was solely utilized when making cakes.
Because baking soda raises the pH levels of body fluids like blood and dissolves uric acid deposits, it can reduce the amount of uric acid in the body and thus relieve gout pain.
To treat hyperuricemia, a half teaspoon should be dissolved in a glass of water and taken up to three times per day but should speak with your nutritionist to prevent any unneeded side effects.
Cold Compress
The same as with the majority of foot issues, temperature compressions can aid to lessen the severity. Any inflammation can be reduced by coolness, and the aching can be relieved by compression.
Take a plastic bag full of ice cubes or an ice pack. For up to 20 minutes, apply gentle pressure to your foot while wrapping it in a light towel and an ace bandage.
Throughout the flare-up, this can be done in spaced intervals several times per day. Some may suggest soaking your sore foot in hot water, but we only do this if your inflammation is severe.
Stay Hydrated
Keep hydrated by consuming lots of water to help your body eliminate uric acid. Avoiding alcohol and sugary beverages like soda and fruit juice is also a good idea.
When you’re in pain, sugar and alcohol may sound appealing, but they could make your gout symptoms worse rather than better.
Dehydration increases the chance of an attack for people with gout. One’s kidneys cannot remove uric acid from the body as effectively when there is not enough water present.
Aiming to consume two to three liters of water each day will help one stay hydrated. Additionally, since gout sufferers are predisposed to kidney stones, doing this would help prevent their development.
Reduce Stress Levels
One of the most important ways to lessen the severity of many physical and mental illnesses, including gout, is to reduce stress.
While it’s hard to eliminate all sources of stress from your life, employing stress-reduction strategies might lessen the pain associated with gout.
If the pain does not limit your movement, spend some time doing low-impact exercises, take the day off from work, read a favorite book, nap, or do something else to help you unwind when you are particularly stressed out.
Ginger
Ginger’s anti-inflammatory qualities have long been understood. Inflammation, uric acid levels, and pain brought on by elevated uric acid levels might be reduced by ginger.
Ginger can be consumed either internally by drinking ginger tea or water, or topically by applying it as a paste to the sore joints.
You should be careful not to consume too much ginger and should consult your doctor first before making the decision.
Fish Oil
Fish oil doesn’t work as quickly as the above, but over time, it can lower your risk for gout because it contains a lot of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to lower inflammation and prevent disease.
It only makes sense that fish oil’s omega-3 content benefits people with gout since gout is a type of arthritis and fish oil is a successful treatment for arthritis.
Cherries
Several clinical experiments have been conducted as a result of the recent sputtering of interest in medical circles over the effectiveness of cherries in preventing gout attacks.
There is some evidence to support the idea that the cherry chemical anthocyanins may assist to reduce uric acid production and prevent gout attacks.
The effects of uric acid on the body can be neutralized by eating a handful of cherries for one to two weeks if you feel a gout attack coming on.
Cherries can be consumed fresh or dried. Studies have shown that cherry juice, whether fresh or from concentrate, has similar positive effects.
Conclusion
When you have gout, the pain and inflammation make it difficult to concentrate at work or on other everyday tasks.
While symptoms might linger for a few days or even weeks, the first day or two are typically when discomfort is at its peak.
While speaking with your doctor is the best course of action, there are some things you can do right away to reduce your gout symptoms.
Your doctor might advise corticosteroid injections into the affected joint for severe cases of gout that don’t respond to the aforementioned treatments.
For people who are sensitive to oral medications, injections can be helpful. Gout symptoms like pain, stiffness, redness, and inflammation might be reduced using natural home remedies.