About Gout

Gout is a form of arthritis. It is characterized by sudden and severe episodes of painful, warm and swollen joints. Gout is caused by an accumulation of sodium urate crystals in the joints. These crystals form when there is an abnormally high level of uric acid in the body.

Men over the age of 40 are more likely than women (of the same age) to suffer from gout
Women typically do not suffer from gout until after menopause
Gout is often hereditary and when it develops in men before the age of 30, it can be especially severe
Gout is one of the most painful types of arthritis, with a pain level equivalent to childbirth or the fracture of long bones, such as the femur, according to gout sufferers
Approximately 60 percent of patients will experience a second gout attack within the first year of their initial attack