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Is Gout and Osteoarthritis Interrelated?

2 min read

You might think you have osteoarthritis (OA) if your knee is swollen and stiff, but it could also be gout. Both illnesses have a lot in common, just like many near relatives. You might be unsure which one is causing your symptoms because they typically occur jointly together.

OA is a degenerative condition that causes the cartilage that cushions bones to break down over time. It affects joints such as the knees, hips, fingers, lower back, and neck, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. Uric acid crystals form in the joints of people who have gout. Gout most commonly affects the big toe joint, however, it can also affect the ankles, knees, hands, and wrists. Gout patients with high uric acid levels may affect other body organs as well.

Knowing which problem you have, or whether you have both gout and osteoarthritis—can assist your doctor in fine-tuning your treatment.

Gout and OA are frequently coexist

People with uric acid deposits in their joints are more likely to get OA in those same joints, according to a study by Duke University Medical Center. Gout patients are also more likely to develop severe OA. According to researchers, uric acid crystals may induce an inflammatory response that causes OA joint degeneration.

On the other hand, those with osteoarthritis can be triggered to acquire gout also. One explanation is that OA causes joint deterioration, which produces an environment that favours the formation of uric acid deposits.

The same inflammatory processes that damage joints could underlie both OA and gout. And the two conditions share a few common risk factors—including obesity. Extra weight both increases the production of uric acid and puts more strain on joints.

How to know whether I have gout or OA?

Despite the fact that gout and OA can affect the same joints at the same time, there are techniques for your doctor to distinguish between the two. Gout is characterised by bouts of pain, swelling, warmth, and redness in a single joint, most commonly the big toe. While OA is more chronic, waxing and waning in nature, it does not begin as abruptly as gout.

If your symptoms don't reveal the source of your joint pain, your doctor can conduct tests to discover if you have excessive uric acid levels in the affected joint.

Treating Gout and OA

Other than relying on medication such as pain killers, treatment for gout and OA relies heavily on lifestyle changes. Restricting high purine foods and weight loss can avoid high uric acid levels and relieve strain on the painful joints.

It is critical for gout patients to keep their uric acid levels under control at all times. Although OA was often thought to be an untreatable disease of passive degeneration, the efficacy of urate-lowering medications or supplements used to treat hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis may be useful in the preventive treatment of OA. Find out the comparison of uric acid supplements available in Malaysia.

This Reunion Celebration, Reduce Your Gout Inflammation by Eating the Right Foods

2 min read

Many of us enjoy feasts, but overindulging can raise the chance of a gout attack! There appears to be an upsurge in gout attacks, especially during the reunion celebration such as CNY or Raya.

The bulk of gout patients used to be in their 50s or 60s, but the ailment is now being treated in younger patients as well. Because hyperuricemia (a high amount of uric acid in the blood) and gout have been related to chronic kidney disease (CKD), it is recommended that anyone who has a history of a gout attack control and reduce purine-rich meals during this CNY.

Lower your gout inflammation this CNY

Avoid high purine meat

This CNY, replace red meat and shellfish with white meat and simmer fish.

Avoid high purine vegetable

Uric acid levels can be raised by eating certain vegetables such as spinach, mushrooms, cauliflower, and asparagus.

Choose wisely your drink

Beer and liquor can cause a gout flare-up by raising uric acid levels in the blood. They can also cause dehydration, which is a common cause of gout. Wine, in moderation, may be a safer option.

Do you have gout attacks on a regular basis? There is a link between it and kidney disease!

Although some people may believe that having a gout attack isn't a huge concern, they may seek pain relief to alleviate their misery. Recurrent gout attacks, on the other hand, may suggest an increased risk of kidney damage.

Take care of your food choices, manage your uric acid level, and have a happy and healthier reunion dinner in this 2022 CNY.

7 Possible Causes of Blurry Vision

3 min read

You see clearly under normal circumstances. Your vision, on the other hand, has become hazy today. What could be causing your blurred vision, and should you be concerned?

You could experience blurry eyesight for a variety of reasons

Straining of the eyes

Eye strain can be caused by long hours looking at a computer screen, phone, tablet, or other activity that needs a lot of visual concentration, such as night driving. As a result, your vision can get blurry. When you're at your computer, remember to blink frequently and to follow the 20-20-20 rule: look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes of looking at the screen before returning to it. When you take time away from blue light screens or situations that cause eye strain, your blurry vision will improve.

Dry eyes syndromes

Your eyesight may get blurry if your eyes become too dry. Dry eyes are caused by an aberrant tear film, which is caused by a decrease in tear production and/or evaporation of the tear film. Dry eye syndrome can be caused by a variety of factors, including autoimmune illnesses, allergies, medicines, age, and menopause. Dry eye syndrome and fuzzy vision can be exacerbated by environmental factors such as low humidity air, fans, and prolonged video screen time. Over-the-counter artificial tears are commonly used to treat dry eyes for temporary relief, but behaviour modification is needed for long term relief. Some supplements may help to protect the tear gland and promote healthy tear production.

Scratch on eye cornea

A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the eye's surface that causes pain, a foreign body sensation, tears, and blurred vision. Minor abrasions heal rapidly and can be treated with lubricant drops, while antibiotic drops are sometimes used to prevent infection. To reduce inflammation and scarring, more serious abrasions may require antibiotic ointment and steroids. To assist in healing and pain relief, a specific bandage contact lens may be required in rare circumstances. The blurry vision will go away once the corneal abrasion heals fully.

High blood sugar

Patients with diabetes who have sudden blurred vision may be suffering a blood sugar surge. High blood sugar levels over an extended period of time may result in a change in your glasses prescription. If you suspect your blood sugar is high, take a reading to confirm it, then follow the steps you and your doctor agreed on for safely lowering it to reduce your blurred vision problem.

Eye retina detached

The retina takes light from the lens and converts it into neural impulses that are sent to the brain via the optic nerve. A detached retina is a dangerous ailment that should be addressed by a retinal expert as soon as possible. A quick start of flashes in the peripheral vision, black floaters, and a black curtain shade blocking part of the vision in one eye are all common symptoms, and you will not feel the pain caused by retina detachment.

Migraine

When you get a migraine or a strong headache, your eyes become sensitive to light and your vision becomes blurry. When your migraine is gone, these symptoms usually go away as well.

Stroke

Sudden intense blurred vision could indicate a stroke, which could occur in the brain or merely in the eye. This is a medical emergency, and you should get expert help right away.

It is recommended that one receive an eye exam at least every 2 years or more frequently if one already has refractive errors. Preventative care is the key to literally preventing future problems. Always take precautions to protect your eyes on a daily basis. Wear UV-blocking sunglasses when you're outside, computer glasses if you work or spend a lot of time on the computer, and get the complete eye protection nutrients to keep your eyes healthy.