what is gout?

i often hear about this. and i know one of my uncles has gout. and today as i was going for my training, i stumble upon my big boss who has gout and was on the way down to his car as he was in pain and will be on medical leave. when i asked him what he had, he said he had 'ikan bilis' aka anchovies, which is common in malaysian food spread. 

as i walked to the training room with WS we were discussing about gout, what may cause it and how to avoid it if we can. so, i decided to google about it so that i know, try to avoid it and share with my readers. i know that in my test, my uric acid sometimes is higher than usual.

this article is copied and pasted from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/144827.php

Fast facts on gout

Here are some key points about gout. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.

• Gout is a form of arthritis caused by excess uric acid in the bloodstream.
• The symptoms of gout are due to the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints and the body's response to them.
• Gout most classically affects the joint in the base of the big toe.
• Gout attacks often occur without warning in the middle of the night.
• Most gout cases are treated with specific medications.

Causes

Gout is caused initially by an excess of uric acid in the blood, or hyperuricemia. Uric acid is produced in the body during the breakdown of purines - chemical compounds that are found in high amounts in certain foods such as meat, poultry, and seafood.

Normally, uric acid is dissolved in the blood and is excreted from the body in urine via the kidneys. If too much uric acid is produced, or not enough is excreted, it can build up and form needle-like crystals that trigger inflammation and pain in the joints and surrounding tissue.