Holidays and Gout: Enjoy One and Avoid the Other

‘Twas the night after the big holiday party, and all through your toe, was terrible pain that just would not let go. This nod to the season, while poetic, doesn’t erase the discomfort that comes with a gout attack. Awakened in the middle of the night with stabbing pain in the joint of your big toe or your heel, this type of arthritis can severely limit your activities. So how can you avoid gout and keep it from ruining your enjoyment of the holidays?

Gout is caused by urate crystals accumulating in your joints, which happens when your kidneys don’t process the uric acid in your blood adequately. Certain foods and drinks produce high levels of uric acid when your body processes them. Red or organ meats, shellfish, and foods with lots of fructose are culprits, as well as alcohol and certain medications.

The best way to avoid gout is to avoid the triggers that set it off. Unfortunately, these are the very things that are set out to tempt us at those holiday parties. Prime rib, shrimp dip, liver pate, that special mixed drink that your uncle presents with a flourish every year, and all the sugary carbonated beverages really do a number on your system. So you need to decide: is indulging in your favorites really worth the risk of ruining your holiday with the throbbing pain and limitations of a gout attack?

There are alternatives. When you gather with family or friends, take along one of your favorite safe dishes or drinks. That way you will always have something to nibble or sip. If you succumb to temptation and end up with an attack, call Dr. Marco Vargas and Dr. Joyce Lee at Foot & Ankle Associates in Sugar Land for help. The number is 888-784-5335, or you can request an appointment online. We want to help you have a pain free and happy holiday season!