How to prevent gout attacks

To reduce painful recurrences of gouty arthritis, know your uric acid level and take appropriate doses of medication.

Gout is a painful joint condition that affects 3.4 million American men. Historically, it was called the "disease of kings" because of its association with excess aristocratic consumption of mutton and mead, but the underlying cause is more down to earth: Gout attacks flare when uric acid, a chemical produced in the body, builds up to an excessive level and starts to form crystals in the affected joint. This triggers inflammation and severe pain, sometimes with fever, muscle aches, and other flu-like symptoms.