How to Stop Gout Pain at Night? You can stop gout pain at night by taking a pain reliever before going to sleep, applying ice, elevating your foot, drinking more fluids, and getting some rest, among other things. Also, you can make long-term lifestyle changes that can lessen the possibility of having future gout attacks.
The swelling and pain can be so bad that they will wake you in the middle of your sleep. Your foot can become sensitive that even the softest touch can be too much. Nonetheless, you can do essential steps to relieve the pain and make the attack bearable.
Why does gout occur at night?
Individuals suffering from gout might often encounter the flare-up of symptoms at night. The aching gout symptoms can obstruct their sleep and result in various health problems. Thus, you need to control the symptoms at night to lead a better and quality life.
Remember that gout flare-ups happen when high amounts of uric acid crystals get collected in the joints. The production of such crystals will be high when there’s a raised level of uric acids within the body. The levels of uric might also be high during the night, which can cause the production of crystals.
Specialists are not certain what causes gout symptoms to flash during the night than at other times of the day. Nonetheless, they assume that this phenomenon might be a combined impact of the following reasons:
1. Dehydration
While sleeping, the body can lose moisture through breathing and sweating. The reduction in the water content in the body can result in the formation of uric acid crystals.
2. A drop in cortisone levels
The production of cortisone will be low if you sleep. That is responsible for controlling inflammation. Thus, when the cortisone levels are low, it might cause inflammation closely connected with gout.
3. Changes in breathing
When you sleep, specific changes can happen in your breathing patterns, which might impact the formation of uric acid crystals. Also, changes in breathing can catalyze the formation of uric acid crystals in two ways:
- During sleep, the breathing pattern will slow down, which reduces the amounts of carbon dioxide dismissed by the lungs. Too much amount of carbon dioxide could make the body somewhat acidic. That can support the production of uric acid crystals in the body.
- Sleep apnea lessens the amount of oxygen consumed by the body. When the oxygen levels are low, it can form more purines and thus increase the risk of gout symptoms.
4. A drop in body temperature
Your body temperature can drop a bit during sleep. That slight drop in temperature might increase the production of uric acid crystals in the joint.
That also describes why gout symptoms often impact your feet and fingers more than the other joints, as those extremities are more likely to have a lower temperature than the other body parts.
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How can you relieve gout pain at night? (How to Stop Gout Pain at Night)
Here are some of the practical tips you can do to ease the pain of gout at night.
1. Elevate your foot
One simple step is to prop your aching foot on cushions while lying down. If you are sitting, ensure you lift your foot above the heart. That could help ease the swelling and pain.
You might also like to apply after while the foot is elevated. That makes for a good 1-2 punch for pain relief.
2. Take a pain reliever
Many doctors encourage you to use NSAIDs as an initial step to relieve the pain of a gout attack. Those include drugs like naproxen and ibuprofen. You don’t need a prescription to purchase them.
NSAIDs can lessen swelling and pain fast. Remember that gout pain is considered to last at least ten days but taking these drugs within the first twenty-four hours shortens the duration.
Such drugs have some side effects, so make sure you discuss them with your physician before taking them yourself.
3. Apply ice
Placing an ice pack on your achy and swollen joint is the next thing you can do. That can help control the swelling and pain. Nonetheless, do not put ice directly on the skin.
Alternatively, you can wrap the ice pack or ice in a towel. It will also help if you use the ice for only twenty minutes. Take a break and ice the joint again.
4. Change your diet
You can check out other long-term solutions to avoid painful attacks in the future. Most of those have to do with your diet.
For example, foods such as shellfish and red meat are high in substances referred to as purines. These are known to trigger an attack. Sugary drinks and alcohol are also possible triggers.
Being obese can also result in gout, as well. Try to consume foods that could help you lose weight, keep a healthy weight, and stay gout-free.
5. Drink enough fluids
Excessive uric acid in the body results in gout, and drinking water helps clear uric acid from the system. That’s why you should drink water often.
That additional fluid might help offer the added relief you need when the flare-up of symptoms is present. But remember that not all fluids are great for gout.
You should stay away from sugary drinks and alcohol. That can make things worse.
Final thoughts
Not everybody with gout feels the worsening symptoms. If you ignore them or fail to act to prevent attacks, you may end up causing yourself long-term harm.
People with gout frequently assume that the extended absence of symptoms indicates the disease has disappeared. That is a fallacy. Unless the underlying cause of high uric acid levels is minimized, the condition can advance silently and reap harm.
For some guidance, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as you think you have had a gout attack. Your physician will prescribe pain medication if you are having bad attacks and get a better sense of the severity of your condition. Be upfront about how bad the pain is. If you need more help with gout and plantar fasciitis, explore our Website.