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The Gout & Uric Acid Education Society is committed to raising public awareness about gout and arming patients, like you, with resources to help you better understand gout diagnosis and treatment. As you may have seen in our previous newsletters, we have introduced a series of educational comics to help raise awareness about the severity of gout. In honor of Alcohol Awareness Month, this month's featured comic references how alcohol consumption - specifically beer - can cause gout flares.
Gout most commonly affects the big toe and the consumption of alcohol has been linked to gout flares. Gout sufferers should avoid alcohol, especially when experiencing a flare. While people who don't drink beer can still suffer from gout, studies have shown that those who do drink beer are more likely to have attacks.
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Just one in three gout sufferers associates excessive alcohol intake with gout, according to a Gout & Uric Acid Education Society survey. During Alcohol Awareness Month, GUAES hopes to raise awareness surrounding alcoholism as another serious disease that has an affect on gout.
Alcohol has a high purine content and uric acid is formed from the breakdown of these purines. If uric acid levels become too high, it is deposited in the joints and can cause gout flares.
It is important to make healthy decisions whether or not you are experiencing a gout flare. This includes avoiding alcohol, especially beer and grain liquors, and binge drinking. For additional information about gout and for complimentary resources, visit GoutEducation.org.
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