Fasting often results in changes to eating and drinking routines, which can lead to dehydration. For individuals with gout, it’s essential to carefully manage their diet and hydration during this period to prevent gout flare-ups. So, how can people with gout avoid painful attacks while fasting? Read on for helpful tips.

What is Gout Pain?

Gout pain occurs due to elevated levels of uric acid in the bloodstream, a substance that is produced during the breakdown of purines. When the body has an excess of uric acid, it can crystallize and accumulate in the joints, causing inflammation, pain, and swelling. While gout commonly affects the big toe joint, it can also strike other areas such as the knee, ankle, and elbow.

Gout attacks are sudden and extremely painful. They can last anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks and vary in intensity. If a gout attack happens, the following symptoms might appear:

• Intense pain

• Redness or color changes in the affected area

• Joint stiffness

• Swelling

• The affected area feels hot or burning

Tips for Preventing Gout Attacks While Fasting

Fasting means the body goes without fluids for long hours, usually around 14 hours. This lack of hydration can trigger dehydration, which is a known risk factor for gout flare-ups. When dehydrated, the body struggles to dissolve uric acid, leading to its accumulation in the joints and causing painful gout attacks.

Aside from dehydration, your diet plays a major role in preventing gout attacks. If you’re fasting and prone to gout, here are some ways to help prevent flare-ups:

Avoid Foods That Trigger Gout Attacks

While fasting, it's important to steer clear of foods that can provoke gout symptoms. Both suhoor and iftar meals should avoid high-purine foods, which include:

• Red meats: beef, lamb, goat, veal, pork, and deer

• Organ meats: liver, kidneys, brain, and spleen

• Seafood: shellfish, shrimp, lobster, mussels, anchovies, and sardines

• High-sugar foods: soda, candy, and processed fast foods

• Turkey

• Yeast and yeast extracts

• Alcoholic beverages

Instead, choose foods that are lower in purines, such as potatoes, rice, bread, fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and tofu. While some gout sufferers can still consume poultry and small portions of red meat, it’s advisable to limit these to around 4-6 ounces per day to avoid triggering an attack.

Stay Hydrated

One of the key ways to prevent dehydration and its associated risks is to drink enough fluids throughout the day. You can space out your water intake by drinking 2 glasses during iftar, 4 glasses at night, and 2 glasses during suhoor.

Aside from water, consider consuming fluids like skim milk, cherry juice, or orange juice in moderation. Coffee is also fine in small amounts, but avoid sugary or alcoholic drinks, as they can impair the body’s ability to metabolize purines properly.

Tips for Managing Gout Attacks During Fasting

If you experience a gout attack during fasting, there are several ways to manage it with home remedies and medication. If the pain becomes unbearable, it’s best to break your fast immediately and hydrate by drinking water to alleviate the symptoms. Afterward, take the gout medication prescribed by your doctor or over-the-counter medication from the pharmacy.

For pain relief, apply a cold compress to the affected area for about 20 minutes, and then rest the joint until the pain begins to ease. If the pain continues for more than 2 days or worsens, it’s important to seek medical attention promptly.

Dehydration during fasting can trigger a gout flare-up. If you experience a gout attack, follow these treatment steps and consult a doctor if the pain doesn’t subside within 48 hours. You can also use the consultation feature on the Ai Care app, which is available for download via the App Store or Play Store.

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