Orlando, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/28/2015 -- Regular or over-consumption of alcohol has been proven to be detrimental to health. Wine, which is considered to be healthy, is also associated with the occurrence of certain conditions.
A new study reveals that wine can trigger gout flares. It has long been known that hard liquor and beer can increase gout risk, but even a modest amount of wine can trigger an attack. This is something that wine lovers should try to think about.
"Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis and it takes place when there is a build up of uric acid around the joints, such as the knees, ankles, feet, elbows and wrists. This leads to episodes of intense redness, pain and swelling," said VitaBreeze Supplements spokesperson, Michelle O'Sullivan.
It was the American Journal of Medicine that found wine can trigger gout attacks. Gout affects around 8 million Americans and this number is continually increasing. There are factors that contribute to this increase such as obesity and lifestyle factors. Beer is a beverage that is known to trigger gout flares as it can increase blood levels of purines, which break the uric acid down.
The Boston University School of Medicine's professor and lead author of a new study, Tuhina Neogi, MD, said that many of her patients reported they couldn't sniff wine without having a gout attack. This led her to suspect that wine could potentially trigger attacks.
To investigate further, Dr. Neogi and her colleagues conducted a survey among 724 gout patients, most of which were overweight men in their 50s who had experienced gout attacks at least once in the previous year.
Results showed that, albeit consuming a single serving of wine, liquor or beer in a 24-hour period did not increase the risk for gout attacks, drinking more than one to two drinks per day could increase the risk by 36 percent. Those who had two to four drinks also experienced a 50 percent risk increase. The risk actually continued to rise as the alcohol consumption increased.
"According to the survey, the risk was also higher for individuals who consumed purine-rich foods such as fish, beef or pork or those who used diuretics. Diuretics are known to increase blood levels of uric acid. The good news is that taking allopurinol and other gout drugs may reduce the effects of alcohol," added O'Sullivan.
Experts suggest that people should make some dietary and lifestyle changes, especially those who are at a high risk for gout attacks. There are natural alternatives such as glucosamine supplements that are believed to be helpful for any type of arthritis, including gout. Many sufferers rely on these natural alternatives to achieve pain relief (www.amazon.com/Glucosamine-Sulfate-Chondroitin-Supplement-Turmeric/dp/B00DUMO9X4).
About VitaBreeze
VitaBreeze is a nutraceutical brand that manufactures high-quality natural supplements to help people live a healthy, enjoyable and longer life. All of the company's products are manufactured in the United States using the finest quality ingredients that have been carefully selected, tested and crafted into the firm's winning formulas. Visit http://www.VitaBreeze.com to learn more.
MEDIA CONTACT INFORMATION
Benjamin Lasance
(407) 545-2239
media@vitabreeze.com
Website: www.VitaBreeze.com