Gout - Complications

Triggers

Triggers are events or conditions that can set off a gout attack. Certain risk factors, including a purine-rich diet, are also considered a trigger. Triggers include:

• Joint injury
• Overindulging in alcohol or purine-rich foods
• Dehydration
• Severe illness or infection
• Sudden weight loss, "crash diets"
• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Using certain drugs

Hot and humid weather may also be strongly associated with recurrent gout attacks. Such weather can cause sweating and, ultimately, dehydration, which has long been recognized as a potential trigger for gout attacks.

Drinking more water and fluids when it's warm outside could help persons with gout prevent future attacks.

Review Date: 01/04/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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