Triggers
Triggers are events or conditions that can set off a gout attack. Certain risk factors, including a purine-rich diet, are also considered a trigger. Triggers include:
- Joint injury
- Overindulging in alcohol or purine-rich foods
- Dehydration
- Severe illness or infection
- Sudden weight loss, "crash diets"
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Using certain drugs
Hot and humid weather may also be strongly associated with recurrent gout attacks. Such weather can cause sweating and, ultimately, dehydration, which has long been recognized as a potential trigger for gout attacks.
Drinking more water and fluids when it's warm outside could help persons with gout prevent future attacks.
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Review Date: 01/04/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
