Gout
Last updated: 19 Nov. 2025
Reviewed by: Specialist doctors from the Elfcare quality team
Waking up with sudden pain, redness, or swelling in your big toe or ankle? Feeling stiffness or warmth in a joint that seemed fine the day before? These can be early signs of gout, a condition caused by excess uric acid building up in the blood.
Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that develops when uric acid forms tiny crystals in your joints, leading to episodes of pain, tenderness, and swelling. It’s more common than many think, and symptoms often come and go, which means it can remain unnoticed or untreated for years.
The good news is that a simple uric acid blood test can detect rising levels long before symptoms appear. Early detection helps you take steps to protect your joints and prevent future flare-ups. At Elfcare, we believe in proactive health, understanding your body early so you can make informed choices and maintain long-term wellbeing.
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What is gout?
Gout is caused by elevated levels of uric acid, a natural waste product that forms when your body breaks down purines found in certain foods and drinks. Normally, uric acid dissolves in your blood and is removed by the kidneys.
When uric acid levels get too high, crystals can form in the joints, triggering inflammation and pain. While gout most often affects the big toe, it can also appear in the ankles, knees, wrists, or fingers. Some people experience sudden gout flare-ups, while others notice ongoing stiffness or discomfort over time.
Symptoms of gout
Gout symptoms can appear suddenly, often at night, and may last from a few days to a couple of weeks.
Common gout symptoms include:
Sudden, intense joint pain (often in the big toe)
Swelling, warmth, and redness in the affected joint
Tenderness, where even light touch is painful
Limited joint movement during a flare-up
Lingering stiffness or discomfort after pain subsides
In more advanced or long-term cases, you may experience:
Repeated flare-ups in different joints
Hard uric acid deposits under the skin (called tophi)
Joint damage or deformity if left untreated
Because early symptoms can be mild or infrequent, many people dismiss them as temporary. That’s why early gout testing is so important, it brings clarity and helps prevent progression.
What causes gout?
Gout develops when uric acid levels stay high enough to form crystals. This can happen for several reasons.
Common causes and risk factors include:
Diet: High intake of red meat, seafood, or sugary drinks
Alcohol: Especially beer and spirits, which raise uric acid levels
Kidney function: Reduced ability to remove uric acid
Genetics: Family history of gout or high uric acid
Medications: Certain diuretics or blood pressure medicines
Obesity and metabolism: Insulin resistance can increase uric acid retention
Dehydration: Low fluid intake reduces uric acid excretion
Gout isn’t just about diet, it’s a combination of metabolism, genetics, and lifestyle. Understanding your unique risk factors helps you keep your uric acid in balance and reduce flare-ups.
How do you detect gout?
The most reliable way to detect gout or gout risk is through a blood test for uric acid levels (often called S-urate or urate).
Key biomarkers include:
Uric acid (S-urate): Measures how much uric acid is in your blood. High levels increase the risk of crystal formation.
Creatinine: Assesses kidney function, which affects how efficiently your body removes uric acid.
C-reactive protein (CRP): Indicates inflammation linked to a gout flare-up.
When reviewed together, these markers show whether your body is accumulating uric acid and how well your kidneys are managing its removal.
Elfcare’s blood tests for gout include uric acid and kidney function markers, giving you an early view of your risk.
Why early detection matters
Gout often develops slowly, and your body can tolerate high uric acid levels for years before crystals form. Once they do, flare-ups can be painful and recurring, but early insight helps you manage or even prevent progression.
Detecting high uric acid early allows you to:
Adjust your diet and hydration habits
Review medications that may raise uric acid
Support kidney health through lifestyle changes
Track progress through follow-up testing
By understanding your uric acid balance before symptoms arise, you can stay in control and protect your joints, kidneys, and overall metabolic health.
In short, early gout detection means fewer surprises later.
How Elfcare can help
Elfcare’s metabolic and kidney health checks include uric acid testing to help you understand your risk of gout. The process is simple: we take a small blood sample, analyse and share your results in clear, accessible language.
Our approach is about empowerment and prevention, not diagnosis. We explain your results in clear, simple terms so you can discuss them confidently with your healthcare provider and make small, effective changes early.
We focus on prevention, awareness, and empowerment. With early insights, you can stay ahead of possible imbalances and maintain energy, focus, and overall wellbeing.
Summary
Gout is a common and often misunderstood condition linked to high uric acid levels. Its symptoms can come and go, but the underlying imbalance may develop quietly for years.
By regularly checking your uric acid and kidney function through Elfcare’s preventive health tests, you can detect imbalances early, understand your body’s signals, and take steps to protect your joints and long-term wellbeing.
When you understand your body, you make choices that protect your comfort, mobility, and health for years to come.
Last updated: 19 Nov. 2025
Reviewed by: Specialist doctors from the quality team at Elfcare
FAQs
What is gout?
Gout is a type of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. It often leads to sudden, intense pain, swelling, and redness — usually in the big toe, but it can affect other joints as well. Gout attacks can come on quickly and are often triggered by diet, alcohol, dehydration, or certain medications.
What are the most common symptoms of gout?
The main symptoms are sudden joint pain, tenderness, redness, swelling, and warmth in the affected area. The pain is often severe, and the joint can become so sensitive that even light touch is uncomfortable. Symptoms usually develop overnight and may last for several days.
How is gout diagnosed?
A doctor can diagnose gout through a blood test that measures uric acid levels, or by analyzing fluid from the affected joint. Imaging such as ultrasound or MRI can also help confirm the presence of uric acid crystals.
Can gout be treated or prevented?
Yes. Gout can be managed effectively with medication, lifestyle changes, and dietary adjustments. Reducing alcohol, sugary drinks, and purine-rich foods (like red meat and seafood) helps lower uric acid levels. Long-term treatment may include medication to prevent future flare-ups.