By Debjani Baidyaray

Mumbai, February 09: A study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases says that women with gout are at more risk of getting a heart attack compared to men. Researchers studied more than 9500 gout patients and 48,000 patients without gout, aged 65 and above.

Gout is characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis where the joint is red, tender and swollen. It is caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood that deposit in the joints, tendons and the surrounding tissues after it crystallizes. Diet is another of the major causes of gout and it is said that about 12 percent is attributed to the diet that includes food items like alcohol, sugar and seafood and meat. A sedentary lifestyle is also major contributor to the development of gout.

Boffins followed the heart health of all the participants for an average of seven years. During this period, 3268 cases of both fatal and non-fatal heart attacks were seen in patients.

The study found that women with gout were 39 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack of any kind in comparison to those who did not have gout. On the other hand, men were found to be only 11 percent at risk of having a fatal or non-fatal heart attack than those without gout.

Reducing uric acid level in blood can help cure gout. Medication and changes in diet and lifestyle can help lower the uric acid level. Low intake of seafood, meat, sugar and alcohol, maintaining a good body weight and consumption of adequate vitamin C can help prevent gout.

Also read: Breast feeding cuts mums' heart attack, stroke risk

TAGS: Heart attack, gout, lifestyle

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