Gout Is Back

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ll of the oldies are back. Bands reunite, old fashions return, and even an affliction associated with previous centuries can make a comeback. Inflammatory arthritis, commonly known as gout, is on the rise in many Western countries, thanks to a combination of worsening diets and alcohol consumption.

Gout is caused by an excess of uric acid in the blood, which crystalizes and gets deposited in joints and tendons. Some people have a genetic predisposition to gout, but experts believe that the current rise in cases of gout is tied to the rise of obesity.

Among the contributing factors to gout include a sedentary lifestyle, alcohol consumption, and a poor diet. Especially known for contributing to gout are sweetened drinks, meat, sugar and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a sweetener found in most processed foods and beverages.

Gout used to be known as the “rich man’s disease,” since it tended to strike nobility, who could afford to eat a rich diet and avoid labor. But now that everyone eats like a king, or at least eats at Burger King, more people than ever are suffering from what, according to the Atlantic, “is widely considered one of the most painful physical afflictions known to man. Even women have been known to say it's worse than childbirth.”

So what can be done to prevent gout? Easy. Don’t get fat and get some exercise. We all know how easy that is, right?