Gout Myths and Gout Facts Myth No. 1: Over time, gout will go away on its own. Gout Fact: Although it is true that most gout attacks eventually subside even without treatment, it is important to get diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Gout attacks commonly recur if you do nothing to prevent them. Gout treatments include medications to lower uric acid levels and reduce pain from uric acid formation in joints and other areas of the body. These medications can get a gout attack under control and reduce your chances of future attacks. Many people need to take uric acid-lowering medications over the long term to keep their gout under control. Myth No. 2: Gout is a mild form of arthritis. Gout Fact: Gout is actually one of the most painful forms of arthritis, and many people compare gout-associated pain with childbirth or breaking a leg. “People describe [gout] as the worst pain of their life,” says Daniel Solomon, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a physician in the rheumatology, immunology, and allergy department at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Over time, gout can lead to serious complications, such as permanent joint damage, kidney stones, and serious kidney damage. Myth No. 3: Gout is a rare condition. Gout Fact: The truth is that gout is a relatively common condition, especially in men and in older people. In 2005, an estimated 1 percent of Americans reported having gout, making it a condition that affects about three million adults at any one time. Older men and postmenopausal women are most frequently affected, and gout is the most common type of arthritis in men over the age of 40. While there’s some truth to the statement that gout is a condition that affects older people, younger people can develop gout, too. In fact, the hereditary form of gout often affects men younger than 30, and this form of gout tends to be severe. Myth No. 4: Gout only affects the big toe. Gout Fact: While the joint of the big toe seems to be the most vulnerable to a gout attack, gout can also affect other joints, including the ankles, knees, wrists, fingers, other parts of the feet, and elbows. Even so, it is estimated that 9 out of 10 people with gout will eventually have a gout attack in their big toe, most likely due to the pressure on it from walking and standing. Myth No. 5: A gout attack never lasts longer than 10 days. Gout Fact: While most people experience acute gout attacks, which usually last one day to one week, some people experience chronic gout episodes that can go on for longer periods of time and lead to joint damage, Dr. Solomon says. These more chronic cases tend to cause less severe pain. Myth No. 6: Gout goes away between gout attacks. Gout Fact: Even if you are not experiencing a gout attack, you still have gout and your uric acid levels may continue to be elevated between attacks. This is why it is important to keep taking your gout medications, even when you don’t have symptoms. “People sometimes stop taking [gout medications], and they often end up having a gout flare,” notes Solomon. Myth No. 7: Eating cherries can cure gout. Gout Fact: There is currently no cure for gout. Even though a very small study suggested that eating cherries may help lower uric acid levels, this finding has not yet been confirmed, and you should talk with your doctor about the right adjustments to make to your diet before trying unproven methods of managing your condition.
