( Climatic factors such as heat and humid...)It's the Heat and the Humidity: How Each Worsens Gout Symptoms,Health

Climatic factors such as heat and humidity that lead to dehydration can signal a future attack for gout sufferers, according to research presented this week at the American// College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington DC.

Gout, caused by deposits of monosodium uric crystals, causes severe pain and swelling of the joints. The attacks, which typically affect one joint over a period of a few days, most often the big toe, can also generate fever, chills, a general feeling of malaise and rapid heartbeat. Depleting the body of fluids through perspiration has been long considered a potential trigger for recurrent gout attacks.

To test the suspected effects of humidity and temperature on the chances of recurrent attacks, researchers recruited 197 individuals who had experienced a gout attack within the past year. Participants were asked to log onto a study Web site when they experienced a gout attack and complete a questionnaire on the risk factors they had experienced the two days prior (known as the hazard period). They also were asked to complete the same questionnaire on experiences over a two-day control period. Climatic data on temperature, barometric pressure, humidity and precipitation for each participant’s zip code, obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was then compared between hazard period and control period with adjustments made for alcohol consumption, purine intake and diuretic use.

Results indicated that high temperature and high humidity were strongly associated with increased risk of a recurrent gout attack. The risk of recurrent attacks increased by almost two-fold when the maximum daily temperature increased from 0-53° F to 87-105° F. A similar magnitude of increased risk also was found when the humidity increased from the dew point of 4-32°F to 64-77°F. Barometric pressure and precipitation appeared to have no influence.

“Our data indicate that both high
'"/>




Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Explosion Worsens Conditions Of Patients With Respiratory Disorder.
2. Passive Smoking Worsens Allergies
3. Children’s Immunization Status Worsens as Mothers’ Income, Education Rie
4. A hormone may decrease Menopause Symptoms
5. Heart Attack Symptoms in Women
6. Heart Attack Symptoms Different in Women
7. Symptoms Found To Be A Good Predictor Of Cancer Survival
8. Sudden Stress Found To Mimic Heart Attack Symptoms
9. Age Can Changes Symptoms Of Sinusitis
10. Ovarian Cancer Presents ‘Target Symptoms’ Six Months Before Diagnosi
11. Daily Jogging Helps To Reduce Symptoms Of Depression