Study: Gout Medication Can Reduce Risk of Two Deadly Heart Conditions

A groundbreaking new study found that medicines used to treat gout, a common form of arthritis, can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. The findings were published in JAMA Internal Medicine, and the study and experts at the University of Nottingham led the investigation.

The research team enrolled 109,504 people with gout and followed them for 5 years after the first prescription of medications such as allopurinol (Zyloprim) that reduces the uric acid, which reduces the development of the painful crystals in feet and joints At the five-year follow-up, many participants had a lower risk of any cardiovascular events..

"People with gout are at an increased risk of illnesses such as heart disease and stroke. This is the first study to find that medicines such as allopurinol that are used to treat gout reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke if they are taken at the right dose,” said Professor Abhishek from the School of Medicine at the University, in a news release.

A Young Man’s Issue

You might think gout only affects older men, but it’s on the rise in other populations. In the U.S., the National Kidney Foundation estimates that approximately 6.1 million men have gout, and it is on the rise in younger men. Men between the ages of 35 and 39 are experiencing a surge in diagnoses, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Gout is known as the king’s disease because of the lavish diet of the wealthy, such as King Henry VIII, known for his elaborate feasts and copious amounts of wine. Experts cite high BMI, alcohol use, sugary drinks, fatty diets, and sedentary lifestyles as contributing factors. Genetics also plays a role, so knowing your family history is important for early detection and treatment.

Gout can cause painful swelling in the skin and joints, particularly in the big toe. Gout can lead to heart and kidney issues, so it’s best to get a diagnosis to treat it before it leads to other chronic conditions.

Most importantly, get your information from a medical professional instead of social media. There are a lot of TikTok hucksters giving bad advice not based on science.