Gout has only recently garnered interest as an important health condition. Hyperuricemia (high uric acid levels in the blood) associated with gout is pro-inflammatory and contributes to atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure
Currently the recommendations for ‘normal’ uric acid levels vary from country to country and are substantially higher in Canada than the United States and Europe where more research is occurring. As a result, many Canadian physicians and patients may not be aware of the need to lower uric acid levels.
Furthermore, patients with high uric acid levels do not always have symptoms of gout and may not take uric-acid lowering medications appropriately, but rather treat the painful symptoms with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) –which are associated with cardiovascular problems themselves- rather than Colchicine. Therefore patients may not be appropriately lowering their risk for CVD by controlling uric acid levels, and may also be increasing their risk by using some NSAIDs.
Wilderman Medical Clinic
