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Get help reducing pain and swelling in joints

	Gout occurs when tiny crystals of a chemical called urate build up in your joints. Most attacks go away within a week or 10 days, even without treatment, but ConsumerReportsHealth.org can help you find ways to prevent these attacks.
	Gout can cause severe pain and swelling in your joints, usually the joint at the base of your big toe. Subscribe to ConsumerReportsHealth.org today and find out which treatments rate best for treating the symptoms of gout.

Consumer Reports Health explains the best and most up-to-date expert research about gout and weighs the evidence about how to treat it. You can use our information to talk with your doctor and decide which treatments are best for you.

Key points for people with gout

• People often get attacks of gout at night.
• Gout is a fairly common condition that can cause severe pain and swelling in your joints, usually in your big toe joint. It can make walking difficult and painful.
• The disease occurs when tiny crystals of a chemical called urate build up in your joints.
• Drinking too much alcohol, especially beer and hard liquor, increases your chances of getting gout.
• Gout is far more common in men than women.
• Contributing factors for getting gout include being very overweight or having illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.
• Treatments can relieve your pain and swelling during an attack of gout, but they all can cause side effects. Most gout attacks go away within a week or 10 days, even without treatment.

A few people only get one attack of gout in their lives. But for most people, gout is likely to come back eventually. Doctors can usually diagnose gout by examining your swollen joint.

Our concise condition report and treatment ratings table will help you and your doctor decide which treatment for gout is right for you. As a Consumer Reports Health subscriber, we'll also help you sort through the best research and the most effective treatments for over 100 conditions and illnesses that may affect you and your family.