Is Gout Hereditary?

Your genes play a big role in shaping who and what you are. Inheriting genes means you can get your mother’s blue eyes and your father’s superior physical ability. Thankfully, you can rest easy knowing you can’t inherit your brother’s big nose.

Along with the genes, a person can also inherit an array of cultural and socioeconomic experiences from their family.

A person’s family history has also been shown to have a significant impact on the likelihood of developing common disease complexes. This makes sense when you consider that it’s your family members that are most likely to match the unique genomic and environmental interactions that you experience.

Over time, these experiences can lead to genetic variations which can potentially increase the chances of inheriting a disease. These can include cancer, cardiovascular disease, mental illness, and yes, arthritis such as gout.

That’s why it’s common to hear about families with diseases and/or medical conditions that seem to “run in the family.” So if you’ve been stumped on why you’ve developed gout, taking a close look at your family history may shed light on the issue.

That being said, knowing your likelihood of developing gout in your later years or understanding why you have it, has many benefits.

What is gout?

Gout is an intensely painful form of inflammatory arthritis. Even though women can get affected by gout, it is the most common form of arthritis in men. Throughout history, gout was often referred to as a “disease for the rich’’ as it was associated with a life of excess, including eating and drinking too much.

Living with gout can be extremely difficult and there’s an unspoken shame of being associated with the condition. Unfortunately, this holds people back from getting a proper medical diagnosis and treatment plan.

What causes gout?

Gout flare-ups typically start off on the big toe but can eventually affect other joints of the body. It is caused by a buildup of excessive uric acid in the bloodstream, also known as a condition called hyperuricemia.

Excessive uric acid build ups occur usually from the over-consumption of purines. Although purines are found in most foods we eat (including our bodies), going overboard on purines can cause trouble for the kidneys.

Purines are broken down naturally in the body in the form of uric acid. These waste products are then metabolized by the kidneys, which then expel them via the stool and urine. However, excess levels of uric acid can prevent the kidneys from synthesizing enough uric acid.

When too much uric acid builds up, it can start forming into noodle-like crystals known as urate crystals. These crystals are usually lodged in the joint areas and can cause intense episodes of pain, swelling, and redness. These episodes are known as gout flares.

Taking a long-term view to treating gout

Anyone that has experienced the pain and duress that gout flares can cause will tell you it’s something they wished they would never repeat. Despite this, most people tend to deal with gout when the episodes occur.

Unsurprisingly, the cycle starts over when a gout attack comes on.

The best way to deal with gout is to accept the fact that there is no cure for gout. While some diseases can be prevented through the use of vaccines, there is currently no vaccine solution for preventing gout either.

When gout attacks occur, their painful effects can be so severe that even simple things like wearing a sock can become unbearable. The symptoms can occur out of the blue while you are at work, or even in the middle of the night while you are (were) sleeping.

Gout is a condition that will grow worse over time. If not given the proper treatment, the attacks can last longer and can end up causing damage to other organs like the kidneys and permanent joint damage.

Therefore, taking a long-term view and committing to serious lifestyle and dietary changes are the best solutions to prevent gout from occurring again.

Furthermore, studies in August 2015 by Clinical Rheumatology suggest that genetics may play a larger role in the development of gout than does your diet.

The role of genetics in gout

As the CR studies show, it is important for gout sufferers to go beyond the societal misconceptions that imply bad dietary habits as the root cause for gout. The fact that your body contains elevated levels of uric acid may have more to do with your genetic makeup, than last weekend’s splurge on shellfish.

Of course, splurging on food only helps fuel our predisposition to develop a gout attack. But focusing solely on DIY methods to deal with your gout will only exacerbate the problem. The fact is that if your body is organically formed to produce lots of uric acid, your dietary changes alone will more likely provide you with modest solutions at best.

The best way to treat your gout condition

Talking to your doctor is by far the best way to treat your gout condition. By going through a comprehensive checkup of both your physical condition and your overall family history, they will be better prepared to offer a long-term treatment plan for your symptoms.

These treatment plans normally combine medication along with some lifestyle and dietary recommendations for the patient.

Whereas as most gout sufferers take medication to provide immediate relief of gout symptoms, these are very short-term solutions. Doctors tend to prescribe urate-lowering meds that are very effective since they target the underlying cause of gout

Some of the popular medications include Allopurinol, Febuxostat, and Probenecid. That being said, automedication is highly discouraged so please consult your doctor for the treatment that is adequate for you.

Balanced diets do count!

Here are some healthy dietary tips to help keep your gout issues in check:

● Maintain a healthy weight level: stick to a weight that’s appropriate for your height and age.

● Stay hydrated: If you just worked out and are feeling thirsty for a nice cold soda or even (gasp!) a beer, stick to drinking water instead.

● Stick to a gout-friendly diet: remember, it’s not that you can’t eat seafood and other gout-inducing meals, but you probably don’t need to eat 3 servings either.

Don’t let gout dictate how you should live your life. Talk to your doctor today and get your gout under control!

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Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for any health concerns.