Can Women Have Gout?

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Summary: Discover if women can have gout, with a look at both uric acid and purines associated with gout attacks.

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Can Women Have Gout?

Yes, women can have gout.

More Info: Gout is an inflammatory arthritic disease brought on by a build-up of uric acid in the body. Uric acid is present in both men and women and is simply the by-product of the break-down of purines that are present in many foods and found naturally in the body's tissue.

Though women can get gout, men are seven to nine times more likely to suffer from gout, which is why it is often referred to as a man's disease.  Each year gout strikes 3.4 million American men making it the most common form of inflammatory arthritis for men over forty.

What Is Uric Acid?

Uric acid is a nitrogenous waste produced in peroxisomes within the cells of the body as a byproduct of nucleic acid metabolism. This chemical is not especially soluble in water and tends to precipitate in solution, forming sharp sodium urate crystals. These crystals contribute to the formation of kidney stones and can deposit in joints, resulting in gout. Despite its potential for harm, the kidneys reclaim uric acid to reuse. This is because the chemical is a powerful antioxidant that can protect cells from damage, and it is useful to the immune system in identifying damaged cells. 

What Are Purines?

Purines are chemical compounds that are broken down into uric acid. You body is able to produce most of the purine that is needed, but there are some protein-containing foods that are high in purine. When an overindulgence of these foods has been ingested into the body, it raises the uric acid and results into a condition known as gout. Purine can be found in high doses in foods such as liver, beef kidney, sweetbread, sardines, game meats, alcohol, gravy, brains, and mackerel. Moderate amounts can be found in foods including dried beans, peas, oatmeal, poultry, mushrooms, seafood, pork, and asparagus.

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Harvard Health PublicationsGout: Joint pain and morehttp://www.health.harvard.edu

University of Maryland Medical Center Uric Acid http://www.umm.edu

." Biology Learning Center at the University of ArizonaIntroduction to DNA Structurehttp://www.blc.arizona.edu

Article Citation

"Can Women Have Gout?." Sophisticated Edge. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://www.sophisticatededge.com/can-women-have-gout.html>.  

Expert Opinion 

Quote:  "Women have a lower risk of developing gout than men, even when they have the same blood levels of the chemical that causes the painful, inflammatory arthritis, new research shows. Gout has traditionally been thought of as a disease of older men, but older women get it, too. A recent national health survey found that about 4% of women in their 60s and 6% of those in their 80s had gout."

.The information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. It is not meant to take the place of health care or services you may need. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your health.


Can women have gout, what is uric acid, what are purines
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