Gout is in the news as we approach Gout Awareness Day. Click here to read the article by Jane Brody in the May 10 edition of The New York Times.
GOUT FAST FACT
1 out of 4 people with gout have a family history of it.
GOUT BROCHURE
Download our brochure
Click here - pdf
Request a FREE gout brochure in the mail. Click here.
SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES
Gout Patient Blog
Welcome to the first in a series of blogs for patients and their families looking for information and tools to help learn more about gout and how to manage the disease. We encourage you to browse our website and patient blog often as we bring you the latest information about strategies to gain control of symptoms and maintain an active lifestyle.
The mission of the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society (GUAES) is to educate the public and healthcare community about gout and the related healthcare consequences of hyperuricemia, with the aim of improving the quality of care and minimizing the burden of gout. As an independent, non-profit organization, the information contained on this blog is generated by experts in the literature and not influenced by the pharmaceutical industry.
We encourage you to browse the site with your questions and suggestions for content to help ensure that we are meeting your information needs. Gout is manageable with a combination of medication and lifestyle modifications.
We also invite you to become a “fan” of GUAES. Our Facebook page is Gout Education. You can also follow us on Twitter at @GoutEducation.
If you haven’t already, be sure to familiarize yourself with the patient section of the website. We’ll update it frequently with information on a range of topics related to gout and other related diseases including obesity, heart disease, kidney disease and cholesterol, among others.
Monday, October 4, 2010
A new study suggests that taking off the pounds could help control one of the major causes of gout. Hyon Choi, MD, DrPH, a professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and a Gout and Uric Acid Education Society board member, found that even modest weight loss may help control hyperuricemia. Weight loss was found to lower uric acid.
The study is a good reminder that lifestyle modifications like eating a healthy, balanced diet and keeping active are important to people with gout. For everyday tips to stay healthy and active, read the guidelines outlined in the “Living With Gout” section of this web site or ask your doctor.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
One of the most frequent questions we get asked is where to find a physician to help manage gout. Your primary care physician may be able to provide a referral. Otherwise, we recommend that you visit the doctor locator on the American College of Rheumatology website, http://www.rheumatology.org/directory/geo.asp.
Here are some questions you may want to ask the doctor at your initial visit:
1. Are there any lifestyle changes I can make that might reduce my risk of developing gout or having a gout attack?
2. Will any of the current medications I am taking increase my risk for hyperuricemia?
3. How does medication work to help my gout?
4. How and when should I take my medication?
5. Could gout medication interact with other medications I am taking?
What should I do if I miss a dose?
6. What should I do if my symptoms are not relieved while taking gout medication?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Gout Awareness Day is Saturday, May 22. Are you ready? Prepare for the day by reading up on gout! Learn how to manage the disease so you can put your awareness into action. We’ll keep the conversation going all year long, here and on Facebook and Twitter. And, don’t forget to order or download our free About Gout brochure to keep all of this information handy.
Monday, May 17, 2010
We’ve launched the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society’s Facebook page! We invite you to become a fan and join the conversation about gout. We’ll bring you the latest news and information resources, share helpful links, timely newspaper articles, and enable you to ask questions of our medical professionals who are committed to patient education. Information provided through GUAES is not a substitute for advice from your medical professional.
Be sure to let us know if you discover information or strategies for managing the disease that may be helpful to others.
There are approximately 5 million people in the U.S. today who have gout. So much for many people thinking gout is a “historical” disease. How did you react when you or your loved one was first diagnosed with gout? Did you feel there was a stigma attached to the disease? Send us your questions and your stories. Help make this blog all about you!
