Common symptoms of Gout

One of the most common symptoms of Gout is severe pain in the big toe. The toe itself becomes tender, swollen and hot within a few hours of an attack. Gout is also known to affect joints of the wrists and knees. Many unfortunate people also suffer from gout pains in more than one joint. A gout attack usually takes place around midnight or early morning. If it is a severe attack, the effects would last for around a week. The patient may also suffer from low grade fever and loss of appetite. Gout can cause serious problems in the kidneys if it develops stones that contain uric acid. This can lead to kidney damage.

Though gout runs in the family, it has been found out that unhealthy food habits like over indulgence in rich food or foods that are high in protein, and excessive consumption of alcohol also causes gout. There are several effective home remedies for gout, which can be tried out easily by most people, for example cherry is known to be highly effective in the treatment for gout. Patients suffering from gout attacks would find relief by consuming 15-20 cherries a day. After the pain has subsided, they can keep the problem under control by taking around 10 a day.