Why gout is on the rise, and how to lower your risk

If you were to mention the term gout, the chances are that most of us would think of the gluttonous sovereigns of yesteryear who ended up with the condition after years of gorging on rich foods and drinking fortified wines. But the fact is, cases of gout have been climbing significantly over the past few decades. So, what’s behind this increase and what measures can we all take to help us avoid this painful condition? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Daniel Baumgardt, a GP and lecturer in health and life sciences at the University of Bristol, to talk about what happens in our bodies when we suffer from gout. He tells us how gout is caused by jagged acidic crystals forming in and around joints, how, far from only affecting the elderly, it’s beginning to affect more and more people in their 20s and 30s, and how suffering from an acute gout attack could be a warning sign that your cardiovascular system is also in poor health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices