How to treat gout at home that is sure to work and work

Gout initially may not cause symptoms until an acute attack actually occurs. Gradually, the symptoms of gout can become more debilitating when the disease has been chronic (chronic). Most of the symptoms usually last for a few hours in 1-2 days. If left untreated, recurrence of attacks from time to time can hinder daily activities. So, how do you treat or reduce excess uric acid levels?

Various ways to treat as well as reduce uric acid

Gout cannot be completely cured. However, you can treat the symptoms so they don't interfere with your daily life.

The key to effective treatment is to reduce excess uric acid by changing your lifestyle to be healthier. Here are various ways to treat gout that you can do at home:

1. Monitor your uric acid levels

If you have recently been diagnosed with gout, various ways to treat this disease may not be effective if you do not monitor the levels.

For starters, you can use a uric acid test kit purchased at a pharmacy. The shape and method of use are almost the same as a blood sugar checker. However, for the results to be accurate, ask your doctor or pharmacist to teach you to use this tool at home.

By using this tool you can continuously monitor your uric acid levels. Normal uric acid levels are below 6 mg / dL for women and men below 7 mg / dL.

2. Take uric acid medication from a doctor

Taking medication is one of the most effective ways to lower uric acid. If you have been prescribed gout medication by your doctor, follow the rules for your drinking schedule and take the dosage as directed.

Some examples of uric acid-lowering drugs that are commonly prescribed by doctors are allopurinol and colchicine. Usually the doctor will also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs such as celecoxib, indomethacin, meloxicam, or sulindac to relieve pain and swelling in the joints.

3. Take painkillers

Once a gout attack hits, you can immediately take non-prescription painkillers (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac or ibuprofen to treat the symptoms.

Do not take aspirin as a way to treat gout attacks. Although both are NSAID painkillers, these drugs have been reported by several studies to actually increase the risk of new attacks in the future; even with light doses.

4. Exercise regularly

While you are on treatment for gout, it is important to stay active with exercise.

Exercise regularly at moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week.

The severity of gout symptoms will be better controlled if you exercise regularly. Exercise makes the joints strengthened and properly trained, so it can prevent the pain that often affects people with gout.

However, you are not advised to exercise right when uric acid is attacking. Doing so can actually make symptoms worse and drag on. Inflammation in the joints can get worse.

Even so, that doesn't mean you don't move your joints. When the joint is inflamed, do gentle stretches to prevent it from getting stiff.

After the inflammation subsides, then you can do the exercise gradually and slowly. Exercise is recommended to rebuild strength and movement of the muscles around the joints.

5. Maintain weight with the right diet

Just like exercise, various ways to treat and reduce uric acid will not be effective if you do not apply the right diet.

People who are overweight or obese are more likely to experience recurrence of gout attacks. Symptoms of gout will often recur if you are accustomed to eating trigger foods, which are high in fat and purines.

So as a way to reduce and treat uric acid, you must maintain a healthy diet to achieve the ideal body weight.

Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables and complex carbohydrates such as wheat. For protein intake, choose from lean meat, fish, chicken with a serving portion of 2-3 pieces per day. Other sources of protein that can be added to your diet are low-fat dairy products or yogurt.

In addition, adhere to certain dietary restrictions as a way to reduce and prevent uric acid spikes. Foods that should be avoided are foods and drinks that are high in purines, namely seafood , red meat, sugary foods, alcohol, and offal.

Purines are substances that the body breaks down and can increase uric acid levels.

6. Drink plenty of mineral water

We recommend that you drink at least eight glasses of water per day to stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water is one of the effective ways to lower uric acid, although not directly.

In the body, water helps transport toxic and unused substances; including excess uric acid. That's why some experts believe that drinking water helps to flush out uric acid build-up in the body.

Apart from plain water, eating fruit that contains water can also be one way to facilitate the excretion of uric acid from the body.

7. Maintain insulin levels

Keeping insulin levels at a normal threshold can be another way to treat gout. This is important to do, even if you don't have diabetes.

Excess insulin in the blood can possibly trigger excess uric acid. So, take the time to check your blood sugar when you visit the doctor to have your gout checked.

8. Keep away from stress

Daily stress doesn't just have an impact on mood (mood), but also on the health of your body from within.

One of the effects of stress is to reduce endurance and increase the risk of inflammation. Both of these can trigger an increase in uric acid in the blood which can trigger an attack of symptoms.

In order for the various ways that you do to treat gout can be successful, try to keep your body and mind from getting stressed easily.

You can do meditation or yoga exercises that can help prevent stress while flexing the joints in the movements.

In addition, healthy ways such as getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating nutritious foods can prevent stress from coming while reducing uric acid so that it doesn't recur.

9. Assisted with using herbal medicine

Herbal medicine is not the recommended way to treat gout until it is cured, but to help lower its levels in the blood.

Some traditional medicines that you can try to consume are brotowali, ginger, turmeric, nettle leaves, and green meniran.

Even so, herbal medicines for gout cannot completely replace the role and function of medical gout medications from doctors.

This natural method can only help improve the health of the body while reducing uric acid levels.