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Posts for tag: Gout

By drbhatia
December 19, 2011
Category: Foot Care

 

Holiday parties filled with colorful drinks and rich meals are an integral part of this time of year for many people.  However, all of this drinking and feasting can increase your risk of a painful attack of the arthritic condition that tends to strike in the foot known as gout. 

Gout is a disease of the metabolism or breakdown of purines.  Purines are nucleotides that are essential to the survival of all the cells in our bodies because they are vital building blocks of DNA.  While we naturally make proteins, they are also found in many foods.  When purines are broken down by the body, uric acid is created.  Abnormally high levels of uric acid in the body, or hyperuricemia, precede the development of gout. 

When the excess uric acid causes crystals to form in the joint, the joint will become inflamed and often extremely painful.  Gout more commonly affects men, but its prevalence increases in women after menopause.  The most commonly affected joint is at the base of the big toe, or hallux called the metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ).  Other than the MPJ of the hallux, gout also occurs in the ankle, wrist and knee.  The affected joint will most often become red, hot and so painful that even the weight of a bed sheet will feel unbearable.  A bump, or mass filled with the urate crystals is also often seen at the joint affected. 

It is important to rule out a paronychia which is an infection of an ingrown toenail, a painful fracture, and other types of arthritis of the foot before being able to offer relief from gout.   With proper diagnosis, gout can be managed and the pain eliminated with various medications.  Lifestyle changes can also be helpful in gout management and prevention.  Excessive alcohol consumption and a diet rich in meat and seafood are associated with a greater risk of gout.  So while it may be difficult to resist this holiday season, you will certainly regret not limiting your intake of these items if you are unfortunate enough to develop painful gout later on! 

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Powell. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

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By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia
February 28, 2011
Category: Foot Care

 

As February and heart health month ends, patients here in Columbus have probably been hearing a lot about keeping their heart healthy from all of their healthcare providers. As a podiatrist I want my patients to know that their feet are a key indicator of their overall health, and can often play an integral role in their heart's health!Healthy Feet Help Make for a Healthy Heart

A recent study by the American Podiatric Medical Association has found that 72% of Americans say that foot pain is preventing them from exercising. These foot issues preventing exercise are a huge setback that needs to be resolved for anyone looking to lose weight and improve their overall health. Orthotics, sometimes known as "arch supports" can be very helpful in relieving pain commonly experienced while exercising. An example of a common cause of pain in runners and other athletes is plantar fasciitis. Orthotics can help to combat the pain of plantar fasciitis which is related to inflammation of the ligament that stretches from the heel across the bottom of the foot, the plantar aponeurosis. Being able to exercise comfortably and without foot pain should be a goal for all patients visiting a doctor of podiatric medicine.

The feet should be examined to check for signs of heart disease. Swelling in the foot and ankle, called edema, is abnormal and can be a sign of congestive heart failure. When the heart is weakened and cannot pump as strongly as it should, blood will pool in the lower parts of the body, especially the foot and ankle. While this swelling can be a sign of heart disease, it can also indicate many other ailments including trauma, insect bites, medications and other circulatory problems such as venous stasis. Patients should try to relieve swelling by elevating the legs above the heart when possible, applying mild pressure with support stockings and possible trying a low salt diet to reduce the amount of fluid being held in the body. A podiatrist should be consulted if swelling of the feet persists, is painful or worsens.

It is also important when dealing with patients who have already had heart problems to be aware of possible implications in the foot of their medications and treatments. For example, congestive heart failure can cause swelling, but blood pressure lowering drugs often taken by heart patients can also cause swelling. Some drugs, such as Lisinopril, which is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure has an unexpected effect in the foot. It can not only cause swelling in the foot but can also rarely cause cases of gout. Gout is when the breakdown products of amino acids from proteins accumulate in a joint, typically the joint at the base of the big toe. A "gouty attack" is very painful and often occurs at night with the affected joint being tender, red and swollen.

It is important to always keep in mind that your foot health is a key component in having total health. Heart health and foot health are surprisingly intertwined and without healthy feet it can be difficult to achieve a healthy heart!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

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Podiatrist - Animesh Bhatia, D.P.M., C.W.S. , Sarah Newby, D.P.M. , Columbus OH, 43235, Dublin, OH 43017, (614) 885-3338
If you are in search of an experienced podiatrist in Columbus Ohio, you have come to the right place. Our podiatrists in Columbus, OH and Dublin, OH are highly skilled in many aspects of podiatric treatments. Selecting a foot doctor in your area can be a difficult task, but it doesn't have to be, especially when you have Dr. Bhatia and Dr. Newby as options.