Gout is the most prevalent inflammatory arthritis in the world, yet it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Many people mistakenly believe that gout only affects the big toe and that it affects only the wealthy who eat lavish cuisine and drink too much wine. Gout is most typically associated with the big toe, but it can also affect other joints and produce terrible agony.
More than 50 % of gout patients are at “extremely high risk” for heart disease, according to a recent study, due to factors such as fatty plaque development in their carotid arteries. A stroke can occur when your carotid arteries get clogged with plaque. Gout sufferers are twice as likely as the general population to suffer a heart attack or stroke, according to other studies.
Although experts are still trying to figure out exactly how gout symptoms and cardiovascular disease are linked, they do know that there are a variety of reasons why the two diseases frequently occur together.
High Blood Pressure
Gout and high blood pressure have a convoluted relationship, but there’s no denying that they’re linked. Gout patients have hypertension in excess of 70% of the time, which increases their risk of stroke and heart attack. While it’s true that some of these people had high blood pressure before getting gout, there’s also proof that the high uric acid levels linked with gout make it more likely for someone with pre-hypertension to develop the full-blown condition.
Obesity
Gout can affect anyone, but persons with a high BMI are at a higher risk because fat raises uric acid levels in the blood. Obesity is linked to heart disease as well. Excess fat raises LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels while decreasing HDL cholesterol levels. Obesity also raises the risk of hypertension and type 2 diabetes.
Inflammation
High quantities of uric acid accumulate in the bloodstream, crystallize, and deposit in one or more joints in persons who have gout. Redness, swelling, and severe pain are all symptoms of an inflammatory response. It’s also a symptom that your body is inflamed in general, which puts you at risk for blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular issues.
Tips To Lower The Risk Of Heart Disease And Gout
Taking gout medications is one of the best ways to reduce heart disease and gout risk. According to recent studies, more than a third of gout patients quit taking or using their uric acid-lowering medicine inconsistently. This puts them at risk for gout flare-ups and cardiovascular disease.