Can Stress Actually Cause A Gout Attack?
Stress has been around since the beginning of man, as long as there is uncertainty there will be stress unfortunately and it does produce consequences. Not as much to people who are relatively good health as much as to those who have a disease or a condition already. Stress may be caused by a divorce, employment, altered finances, self-image, depression, accident, disability, social life problems etc…
Unfortunately, stress doesn’t make an exception towards gout sufferers since there seems to be a correlation between stress and gout attacks. This correlation seems more prevalent when stress is long-sustained, meaning it is not a one day stress episode but more long term stress that may harm the gout sufferer by raising his uric acid levels. That is why a gout sufferer must learn to manage their stress cause remember that stress may also cause muscle tension and increased pain along with worsening gout symptoms.
What happens when you are stressed is your body depletes the vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid from your body which helps remove excess uric acid from the body. Furthermore, when your body experiences stress, it releases the hormone cortisol which your body needs to regulate energy levels, salt/water balance, protein metabolism, but too much of it can have adverse side effects like muscle breakdown, high blood pressure, increased fat storage and more importantly it may reduce your system’s ability to address health situations like your gout. You have to realize that once you are under stress, your body doesn’t function at 100%.
There have been no studies done in regards to gout and stress but studies on arthritis which studied laboratory rats have proven a definite connection between stress and the development of arthritis. Many arthritis patients connect their disease with a stressful incident in their lives which they claim triggered it for them.
Many arthritis patients are prescribed a corticosteroid, such as prednisone, which is closely related to cortisol, as part of their treatment plan. Again opinions in the medical field vary because it is very difficult to prove based on so many different human experiences and responses. Researchers are also hesitant to draw up conclusions for humans based on animal studies.
So how do you avoid or limit your stress?
Exercise, even some moderate exercise like taking a walk will do wonders. Intense or prolonged exercise may increase your cortisol levels besides putting excessive stress on your body; low intensity exercise may actually reduce your cortisol levels. You can even meditate, prayer may also help if you are religious, yoga, practicing relaxation techniques and even talking to a friend or family member about what stresses you.
You can also take B complex vitamins supplement which may be effective in regulating stress and keeping cortisol levels in check. Other vitamins that may also help to control your cortisol levels are magnesium and vitamin C. Don’t also forget omega 3 fatty acids such as fish oil and herbs may also help reduce cortisol and stress; like green tea, valerian and ginseng.
11 replies to "Gout and Stress"
I am living stressful times , I lost my business after years from success , my wife took my kids and refuse to talk right on the same day of the pandemic lockdown
Got depressed , stressed and refused to get in touch with friends cause I decided to manage my life by my self. it has been More than 4 months now and lately I fell down then a week later developed this gout flare that developed to gout attacks in less than a month. I was on keto diet , I stopped it , I took pain killers which are Brofen & voltarine for two weeks and gave me a bit of relief but caused of swelling my foot. I quit them & went to an Ayurvedic doctor who gave me medication and in 5 days 90% of pain was eliminated. he asked me to stop eating meats , dairy, nuts for 5 days only but I kept being a vegetarian for 2 weeks in a hope that 10% of the flare will disappear, today as I was rubning out of money I wanted to coup with this stress by earmting meat to relax, I fried some sausages with salad and had some dairy and nuts , the flare increased.
7 years before I was in stress, I saw my father falling in front of me due to illness and I had gout attack within one week any on monthly basis after that despite quitting all kinds of protien even for more than 8 months. I was crippling for 8 months, Then I was suggested by a great surgeon to get Ozone treatment, I got 5 Ozone injections within two weeks period and it was gone completely for 6 years.
Now because of this unresolved situation this is happening.
I have been diagnosed with high anxiety and now have gout. I did not know that could be a link, any help please.
With stress, exercise helps, yoga, getting the right amount of sleep and try to relax. Read a good book, go for a walk, meet with friends and family, socializing makes us happier.
I am definitely seeing a correlation between stress and gout. Unmanaged stress which leads to raised voices, work arguments etc.I have no idea what happens but something that regulates your blood possibly reduces functionality.Just guessing.Diet is important but possibly if you’re calm trigger foods are processed more efficiently.
Hope gout leaves you be for a while
I’ve had two attacks this year. In both instances, I was under an intense amount of stress in the weeks prior to the attack. Here’s the pattern:
1) Intense work-related stress
2) Poor sleeping for several weeks
3) Cold sores
4) Gout attack
What this says to me is that I have unresolved underlying anxiety that I’m not dealing with.
Time to get the message and deal with it!
Thanks for this awesome site!
Hi
I have been a gout sufferer for over 12 years and I’ve seen multiple specialists and have watched what I eat to no avail .Recently I was diagnosed with anxiety /depression and was prescribed with Quetiapine 50mg and Pristiq has been around six weeks now and my gout has gone. I underestimated the power of anxiety /depression /stress on gout . I have been eating all the food that guaranteed meet gout the next day and still no niggles.Thanks! Matt.
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Currently at home resting due to a recent gout attack. I have tried everything to avoid this from happening but I believe that some advices on a sound diet can help me be better prepared.
your assistance in that matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much.
If I man could give birth I imagine this is what it’d feel like:(
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