Gout is essentially the most common variety of inflammatory arthritis and affects greater than 8 million adults. Men are more in danger than women. And based on a brand new study, for those who suffer from sleep deprivation, you're also at increased risk of gout, a condition where your respiratory stops repeatedly whilst you sleep.
What exactly is gout?
Gout begins with the crystallization of uric acid throughout the joints. It happens like this: Your body produces uric acid by breaking down purines, a natural waste product of living cells. Normally, uric acid dissolves in your blood and passes through your kidneys into your urine.
However, sometimes your body produces an excessive amount of uric acid or excretes too little. This causes uric acid to accumulate and needle-like urate crystals to form within the joint or surrounding tissue. The result: sudden flare-ups that cause severe pain, inflammation, swelling, and redness.
While the large toe joint is essentially the most commonly affected area, gout can occur in any joint, including your ankles, knees, hands, and wrists. Episodes can last from a number of days to several weeks.
The link between sleep deprivation and gout
For the study, I used to be published. Arthritis and Rheumatology, The researchers compared individuals with and without sleep apnea through records in a British health database. They chosen a complete of 9,865 individuals with sleep apnea (average age 54 years) and matched them with a “control” group of 43,958 people without the disorder. After one 12 months, individuals with sleep deprivation were about 50 percent more prone to have a gout attack than the control group.
Another theory could also be related to hypoxia, a complication of sleep apnea that causes an individual's oxygen levels to drop during sleep. “This can cause tissue damage and cell breakdown, both of which can raise uric acid levels,” says Dr. Schmerling.
Even for those who're not sleep-deprived, your risk of a gout attack increases at night – gout attacks are twice as prone to occur at night or early within the morning. The most important reasons for this are the low body temperature and dehydration that happens whilst you sleep. “Crystals are more likely to form at low temperatures, and dehydration can prevent excess uric acid from being excreted from the body,” says Dr. Schmerling.
Treatment of gout
Gout will be diagnosed by testing the fluid within the joint for the extent of urate crystals. The level of uric acid in your blood also can help diagnose gout – the upper the extent, the upper your risk.
Dr. Schmerling says that for sudden, severe attacks, the primary line of treatment is medication. These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) resembling ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and naproxen sodium (Aleve), and prescription NSAIDs resembling indomethacin (Indocin) or celecoxib (Celebrex). Colchicine and corticosteroids also can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
Diet and lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of a second attack. Avoid beef and seafood (which might raise uric acid levels) and limit alcohol consumption, in addition to drinks with high fructose corn syrup. Stay well hydrated and follow an exercise program to assist shed extra weight. Try adding uric acid-lowering foods to your weight loss program, including coffee (caffeinated or decaf) and cherry juice. It also helps to extend your vitamin C intake through supplements or foods resembling bell peppers, broccoli, strawberries and oranges.
What to do
Research has not yet confirmed whether treating sleep deprivation will reduce your risk of gout, however it's value discussing along with your doctor, as sleep deprivation has been linked to other serious health problems. , including heart disease, hypertension and stroke. There are some ways to treat sleep deprivation – and doing so can have many health advantages.