I am shocked and appalled that the writer of this article creates and maintains the idea that gout is caused by “too rich a diet and alcohol use.” without correcting this misconception. [b]This is an outright lie.[/b] Too long have gout sufferers been accused of alcoholism and gluttony totally unfairly.
Plenty of people who are complete long term “tea-totallers” — completely alcohol free for many years — suffer from gout. So do skinny people who eat very little, but perhaps have eaten the wrong kind of beans.
The body’s inability to process certain purines apparently has a genetic connection — some missing enzymes. Those purines are found in legumes (beans and peas) as well as in mushrooms and dark oily fish, such as mackeral or anchovies.
This writer is perpetuating a myth that seeks to make the gout sufferer morally responsible for his or her own disease. If he had really done thorough homework, he would not have written such reprehensible lies. This one really ticks me off.
Each gout sufferer has his (or her) own triggers. It could be lentils, which are certainly not identified as “rich man’s fare.” For some, it is shellfish or mushrooms. When the gout sufferer avoids the trigger, the crisis episodes diminish or even disappear.
To imply that people just bring gout on themselves is cruel and horrible. So is calling them all alcoholics. In the past, some gout sufferers drank to dull their unbearable pain. Alcohol is not a trigger.
Thank you, New York Times, for yet another inaccurate article.
You’re absolutely right about the genetic component. Every male in my maternal grandfather’s family has developed gout before hitting 25, across a pretty wide variety of body types, diets, and fitness levels from sedentary to pro athlete. None severe (thankfully) but we’ve all got a touch of it.
I think the idea arose in the middle ages when most people were just above starvation except the rich who were able to get enough of the offending purines to get the gout–hence obese and indolent rich. Also, they were probably the only ones who had any medical care (usually bleeding or poltices) to have it noted. I think Henry VIII had gout among other things. Surely should be no stigma for the disease except for those who don’t take their medicin regularly to prevent attacks.
I just came off a round of gout in my left foot and left knee. Good night’s sleeps were few and far between. My diet’s not the best in the world but as far as I know, I’m the only person in my family who’s ever had it.
When I was a teenager and I saw my dad (an Episcopal priest) occasionally laid low with gout, I had no sympathy. It “had” to be something he was doing wrong with his life!
Less than a week before I was ordained a deacon– about a month before my 41st birthday– I felt what I thought was a sprain in my big toe. “Strange,” I thought, “I went running yesterday and I don’t remember injuring myself.” In the seminary library I sought out a fellow student who also happened to be an MD. “Have you ever had gout?” he asked. No, I told him. As soon as he saw my foot he said, “You do now.”
It was he who told me that Anglican clergy have a higher than usual incidence of gout. Whether it’s true or not, I don’t know. He wasn’t licensed to practice medicine in that state, so I went to a clinic that I found, where the doctor could see me that day. The doctor, a Chrisitian woman, confirmed the diagnosis of gout and gave me some free samples of Indocin, but started in on a lecture about the evils of drinking cheap whiskey and eating raw clams. Innocent on both counts!
So now I have the occasional episode of gout, and it seems to me that stress is one of triggers. I wonder if it is going to show up in one of my kids.
I know the males in my husband’s family have a history of gout: My father-in-law, brother-in-law and most recently my step-son (only 22 years old). I know that none are heavy drinkers. I believe it is a case of genetics over poor living.
# 4: Dear Christopher. It is not a matter at all of your diet being “good” or “poor” or whatever. It is a matter of discovering the specific triggers that will set off your attacks. For you it might be beans — or anchovies. Maybe you need to avoid mushrooms. Usually, people can eat red meat, but shouldn’t over do the amounts. It is also possible that some of your ancestors had gout, but it was never recognized.
It is important to check in with a doctor. Over time, the sharp crystals continue to form and settle in you joints causing damage. That may develop slowly, but it won’t stop by itself and may cause crippling in later life.
Also: the indocin helps the inflammation, but allopurinol helps prevent the formation of the crystals. If you find a doctor who really understands gout, you treatment can be greatly improved.
I am shocked and appalled that the writer of this article creates and maintains the idea that gout is caused by “too rich a diet and alcohol use.” without correcting this misconception. [b]This is an outright lie.[/b] Too long have gout sufferers been accused of alcoholism and gluttony totally unfairly.
Plenty of people who are complete long term “tea-totallers” — completely alcohol free for many years — suffer from gout. So do skinny people who eat very little, but perhaps have eaten the wrong kind of beans.
The body’s inability to process certain purines apparently has a genetic connection — some missing enzymes. Those purines are found in legumes (beans and peas) as well as in mushrooms and dark oily fish, such as mackeral or anchovies.
This writer is perpetuating a myth that seeks to make the gout sufferer morally responsible for his or her own disease. If he had really done thorough homework, he would not have written such reprehensible lies. This one really ticks me off.
Each gout sufferer has his (or her) own triggers. It could be lentils, which are certainly not identified as “rich man’s fare.” For some, it is shellfish or mushrooms. When the gout sufferer avoids the trigger, the crisis episodes diminish or even disappear.
To imply that people just bring gout on themselves is cruel and horrible. So is calling them all alcoholics. In the past, some gout sufferers drank to dull their unbearable pain. Alcohol is not a trigger.
Thank you, New York Times, for yet another inaccurate article.
You’re absolutely right about the genetic component. Every male in my maternal grandfather’s family has developed gout before hitting 25, across a pretty wide variety of body types, diets, and fitness levels from sedentary to pro athlete. None severe (thankfully) but we’ve all got a touch of it.
I think the idea arose in the middle ages when most people were just above starvation except the rich who were able to get enough of the offending purines to get the gout–hence obese and indolent rich. Also, they were probably the only ones who had any medical care (usually bleeding or poltices) to have it noted. I think Henry VIII had gout among other things. Surely should be no stigma for the disease except for those who don’t take their medicin regularly to prevent attacks.
I just came off a round of gout in my left foot and left knee. Good night’s sleeps were few and far between. My diet’s not the best in the world but as far as I know, I’m the only person in my family who’s ever had it.
When I was a teenager and I saw my dad (an Episcopal priest) occasionally laid low with gout, I had no sympathy. It “had” to be something he was doing wrong with his life!
Less than a week before I was ordained a deacon– about a month before my 41st birthday– I felt what I thought was a sprain in my big toe. “Strange,” I thought, “I went running yesterday and I don’t remember injuring myself.” In the seminary library I sought out a fellow student who also happened to be an MD. “Have you ever had gout?” he asked. No, I told him. As soon as he saw my foot he said, “You do now.”
It was he who told me that Anglican clergy have a higher than usual incidence of gout. Whether it’s true or not, I don’t know. He wasn’t licensed to practice medicine in that state, so I went to a clinic that I found, where the doctor could see me that day. The doctor, a Chrisitian woman, confirmed the diagnosis of gout and gave me some free samples of Indocin, but started in on a lecture about the evils of drinking cheap whiskey and eating raw clams. Innocent on both counts!
So now I have the occasional episode of gout, and it seems to me that stress is one of triggers. I wonder if it is going to show up in one of my kids.
Chuck Bradshaw
I know the males in my husband’s family have a history of gout: My father-in-law, brother-in-law and most recently my step-son (only 22 years old). I know that none are heavy drinkers. I believe it is a case of genetics over poor living.
# 4: Dear Christopher. It is not a matter at all of your diet being “good” or “poor” or whatever. It is a matter of discovering the specific triggers that will set off your attacks. For you it might be beans — or anchovies. Maybe you need to avoid mushrooms. Usually, people can eat red meat, but shouldn’t over do the amounts. It is also possible that some of your ancestors had gout, but it was never recognized.
It is important to check in with a doctor. Over time, the sharp crystals continue to form and settle in you joints causing damage. That may develop slowly, but it won’t stop by itself and may cause crippling in later life.
Also: the indocin helps the inflammation, but allopurinol helps prevent the formation of the crystals. If you find a doctor who really understands gout, you treatment can be greatly improved.
Blessings and good health to all.