Patient/caregiver was educated on lifestyle measures in individuals with Gout as follows:
- Observe compliance with use of cold and hot compresses, as needed. Cold compress reduces the blood supply to the joint, which helps with reducing the warmth and swelling in an acutely inflamed joint. Observe compliance with use of cold compress when the joint is acutely inflamed. Hot compress increases the blood supply to the joint, which results in warmth and can contribute to increased swelling in the painful joint. So, do not apply hot compress when the joint is red and acutely inflamed. Once the swelling and warmth in the joint are controlled with cold compress, hot compress could be used later to relieve spasm in the muscles around the joint and promote relaxation in the joint.
- Obese and overweight individuals must observe compliance with any weight loss recommendations made by their physician. Loss of a few pounds can help reduce stress on the affected joint, which contributes to improvement in pain control. Obese individuals can seek a nutritionist consult for recommendation regarding their ideal weight for their height and limitations on daily calorie allowance. Individuals with limitations on daily calorie allowance must comply with the recommendations made, which can help achieve target weight and thereby, improved pain control.
- Observe compliance with avoiding or minimizing consumption of gluten containing products, vegetables belonging to nightshade family, highly processed meat and dairy products, red meat, processed bread products, high purine foods, and beer. Consumption of food products rich in omega-6 fatty acids, trans fats, and added sugars also must be minimized or avoided at best. These above-mentioned food items are rich in ingredients potentiating inflammation in joints and so, are discouraged.
