Diseases & Conditions
Holiday joy can bring painful joint inflammation
Gout attacks can be triggered by foods that are abundant on the holiday buffet.
- Reviewed by Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
Holidays and indulgence often go together, and there's probably not much harm if you partake conservatively in rich meals or an occasional cocktail to toast the season.
Too much indulgence is another story, however, especially if you're at risk for gout — a condition that can cause recurrent attacks of inflammation in the joints of the big toe, feet, ankles, knees, wrists, or hands. And the holidays set the perfect table for a gout attack.
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About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
About the Reviewer
Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
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