How to prevent gout attacks
Guidelines suggest that men at risk of gout attacks should keep their blood uric acid under 6 milligrams per deciliter. Dietary changes alone may not lower uric acid sufficiently if it is high, but avoiding certain gout-triggering foods can still help prevent gout attacks. For those who need uric acid lowering medication, guidelines say that they should take a high enough dose to be effective. For those with only sporadic attacks, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug may work well. During flare ups or while waiting for uric-acid-lowering medication to start working, colchicine may be taken at lower doses than were once typical.
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