Gout: Sleep apnea can increase the risk

Gout: Sleep apnea can increase the risk - Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis and affects more than 8 million adults. Men have a higher risk than women.  

And according to a new study, the risk of gout also increases if you suffer from sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops the repeatedly during sleep.

What exactly is gout?

The reduction was triggered by the crystallization of uric acid in the joints. It goes like this: Your body produces uric acid breaks down purines, natural waste product of living cells. Normally, uric acid dissolves in blood and passes through the kidneys into the urine.

However, sometimes the body produces too much uric acid or secreted very little. This causes uric acid to accumulate and form urate crystals in the needle form a joint or surrounding tissue. The result flare-ups that cause severe pain, inflammation, swelling and redness.

While the large joint of the big toe is the most affected area, gout can occur in any joint, including their ankles, knees, hands and wrists. The episodes can last from days to weeks.

The relationship between sleep apnea and gout 

For the study, published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, the researchers spent combing through the records in a health database of British comparing people with and without sleep apnea. A total of 9.865 persons were screened with sleep apnea (average 54 years) and are entitled to a "control" group of 43.958 persons without trouble. After one year, people with sleep apnea were 50% more likely to have had an attack of gout compared with the control group.

The exact nature of the relationship between gout and sleep apnea is unknown, but there are two possible explanations, the researchers said. First, the two conditions share common risk factor: overweight. "Although it is not clear how being overweight is associated with gout, many people who suffer from the condition tend to be overweight," says Dr. Robert Shmerling clinical chief of rheumatology at Harvard University affiliate Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

The other theory may be related to hypoxia, a sleep apnea causes complication levels of a person of oxygen to fall during sleep. "This can cause tissue damage and decomposition of the cell, which can cause uric acid levels increase," says Dr. Shmerling.

Even if you have sleep apnea, the risk of a gout attack gets up at night - gout attacks are twice as likely to strike during the night or early morning. It is believed that the main reasons for this drop in body temperature and dehydration that occur during sleep. "The crystals are more likely to crystallize at lower temperatures, and dehydration can prevent excess uric acid is flushed from the body," explains Dr. Shmerling.

The treatment of gout

Gout can be confirmed by analysis of the liquid in a joint by their level of urate crystals. Their level of uric acid in the blood may also be useful for the diagnosis of gout - the higher the level, the greater your risk.

In sudden acute crises, the first line of treatment is a drug, says Dr. Shmerling. These include anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) and prescription NSAIDs such as indomethacin (Indocin) or celecoxib (Celebrex). Colchicine and corticosteroids can also help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. 

Changes in diet and lifestyle can reduce the risk of another attack. Avoid eating seafood and red meat (which can increase levels of uric acid) and limit alcohol and drinks with high fructose corn syrup. Stay well hydrated and adopt an exercise program to help lose excess weight. 

Try to include foods rich in lowering uric acid in your diet, including coffee (caffeinated or decaffeinated) and cherry juice. It also helps to increase your intake of vitamin C through supplements or foods such as peppers, broccoli, strawberries and oranges.

What to do

The investigation has not yet been confirmed whether treating sleep apnea will reduce the risk of gout, but worth discussing with your doctor that sleep apnea is associated with other serious problems health, such as heart disease, hypertension and stroke. There are several ways to treat sleep apnea - and many health benefits to be gained by doing so. 

By: Matthew Solan