In reply to:

What exactly is gout, anyway?

There is a substance called purine, which we get in our bloodstreams from foodstuffs such as red wine, pork, offal, and shellfish. Most people excrete it reasonably effectively in their urine. Unfortunately some of us don't do this so well for genetic reasons and the purine forms crystals which lodge around joints, most commonly those in the big toe but the ankles are another trouble spot. This is gout. The best preventives are to avoid purine rich foods and to drink lots of water. There is also medicine you can take to increase purine excretion during an attack. A bad toothache, I assure you, is absolutely nothing in comparison.

Bingley


Bingley