More people than ever these days seem to suffer from gout. This is a painful and unpleasant condition where uric acid can build up in your joints and crystallize causing an extremely painful condition associated with symptoms like swelling and stiffness. Normally this discomfort is usually concentrated in the feet and can be very uncomfortable for the sufferer. If you ask most doctors the question "what helps gout pain the most", they as an organized group generally share the same opinion that the best and most efficient way is to eat a more healthy diet and in doing so avoid the buildup of uric acid in your system.

Gout can have a hereditary aspect but more often then not eating large amounts of inappropriate foods that contain too much puric acid brings it about. Many foods such as red meat, scallops and too much cream and cream based sources, are possibly a contributing element in making people more likely to contract the painful symptoms of gout. Alcohol can also be a contributing factor to the presence of gout and many doctors believe that it is a good idea for the sufferer to limit their intake of alcohol to reasonable levels. Drinking plenty of water, naturally, can have a positive effect for sufferers of this disease.

What really helps gout pain the most if you are suffering and would like immediate relief is honestly, a good pain relief prescription or over-the-counter painkiller. If you ask the doctor or pharmacist they should be able to refer you to the best treatments for your pain relief needs and gout symptoms. Although taking pain relief medication can temporarily help you feel better it should not be considered a long-term solution. You should seek medical advice from a doctor or specialist on how changes to your lifestyle could improve your condition and make you less prone to suffering from bouts of gout in the future.

Routinely, when you ask your doctor what helps gout pain the most, you will probably be prescribed some pain medication such as anti-inflammatory meds. If these do not have the desired effect, you may also be given probenecid or colchicine. Unfortunately, these medications, while helpful, can have unpleasant side effects such as pain or sickness and are unlikely to be chosen unless other treatments have proved to be ineffective.

Unless your gout is diagnosed as being hereditary, it is possible that all you need to do is to live a healthier lifestyle with a better diet that is based on less rich foods and less alcohol. But before deciding how to best treat your gout, you should first consult your doctor or medical specialist on what he thinks is the best way to alleviate your illness.