"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

Gout is linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Gout flare-ups are quite a nuisance, but in keeping with a study published on August 2, 2022 Jama, one event may signal an increased risk of heart attack or stroke in the subsequent two months. Gout strikes when an excessive amount of uric acid builds up within the body and accumulates in a number of joints, causing severe joint pain, swelling, and redness.

Researchers checked out greater than 62,000 people diagnosed with gout, 70% of whom were men (average age 77). They found that about 10,000 patients suffered a stroke or heart attack inside 4 months of the flare-up. The risk was highest throughout the first 60 days after which progressively decreased.

The results showed just one association, but other research has linked high uric acid levels to an increased incidence of hypertension and diabetes, two major contributors to heart attack and stroke. Although lowering high uric acid levels does in a roundabout way reduce the chance of heart attack or stroke, a gout attack provides a possibility to take steps to stop these events in addition to future gout flare-ups. . This means making the mandatory weight-reduction plan and medicine changes to regulate gout and ensure your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels are at a healthy level.


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