What Causes Gout?

"Gout is caused by an increase, or build up, of uric acid in the body.  It is usually a result of a decreased excreation of uric acid in our urine.  Initially the uric acid is found in the blood, but over time it will defuse throughout the body.  This includes the joints.  As uric acid increases in concentration in the joints it is more likely to crystallize.  These crystals can cause a lot of pain during an acute gout attack. 
 

The question can be asked: Why is gout usually seen in the feet?  Uric acid is not water soluble.  This means that it will crystallize if given the right conditions.  First, in high enough concentrations it can crystallize.  Second, as temperature decreases it is more likely to crystallize.  Gout can be found in any joint, but I believe it happens more in the feet because of the decreased temperature found in the feet.  The feet are the structures in the body that are furthest from the heart, making them the coolest. 

Symptoms of an acute gout attack include pain, edema (swelling), and erythema (redness) around the joint involved.  It is common to see a patient that was drinking alcohol or eating a steak dinner one evening to wake up the next morning with an acute gout attack.  The pain is usually 10 out of 10 and can be so painful it hurts to even let the bed sheets rest on the affected area.  An acute gout attack can mimic different arthritic conditions, including septic arthritis.  A diagnosis is made definitively through joint aspiration, which is then sent to a pathology lab."

- Dr. Marshal Gwynn

A Sobering Foot Study

As a child, I remember being fascinated that one could change the color of a celery stalk or even a coffee filter simply by putting its tip in colored water. Many of us were exposed to this experiment as children because teachers often use it to show students how plants take in water and nutrients. But what's that got to do with feet?

According to a Danish urban myth, our feet can absorb alcohol in much the same way. The myth proposes that vodka can enter the blood stream through unbroken skin and cause intoxication if one stands in a puddle of it. Three Danish Ph.D. students set out to test this myth's validity by doing just that. In their comically named "PEACE ON EARTH" (Percutaneous Ethanol Absorption Could Evoke Ongoing Nationwide Euphoria And Random Tender Hugs) study, each stood in 700mL of vodka for three hours.  Their behavior and blood alcohol levels were documented every half hour to gauge their absorption. 

Aside from presumed pruning, observed changes were insignificant over the course of the study. Not surprisingly they concluded that we, unlike celery, are incapable of absorbing nutrients through the skin of our feet.

The point of all of this is that our skin is designed to keep out everything from infections to vodka. When our skin is compromised through a cut or an ulcer, it can no longer do its job. Proper foot care and visiting your podiatrist when the need arises will keep your feet healthy - and apparently sober.

If you'd like to read more about the study, visit British Medical Journal: PEACE ON EARTH.