The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Gout Flares

Obstructive sleep apnea has been tied to a large number of other health problems, including heart disease, obesity, and stroke. Now a new sleep apnea study has strengthened the tie between OSA and one more health condition, gout. The results of the study don't explain why sleep apnea may be a factor that causes gout flares, but it does suggest that treating sleep apnea could prevent attacks of gout in some people.

What is Gout?

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. The uric acid crystallizes and collects in the joints, most commonly affecting the big toe. Gout is more common in men and postmenopausal women. It is also more common in older people, African-Americans, and people who have a parent who suffered from gout. Symptoms of gout include:

• The quick onset of pain, swelling, and extreme tenderness in a joint.
• Redness and warmth in a joint.
• Attacks that last for hours, days, or even weeks.

Risk factors for gout include:

• Obesity or excessive weight gain.
• High blood pressure.
• Alcohol use.
• Abnormal kidney function.
• Hypothyroidism.

The best way to prevent a gout attack is to stay hydrated, limit alcohol intake, and maintain a healthy weight. Gout may also be prevented through avoiding foods rich with purine, which is converted into uric acid in the body during digestion. Eating dairy products may also reduce levels of uric acid in the blood.

Recent Study: Sleep Apnea and Gout Flares

Scientists at Boston University recently conducted a study that found a significant connection between sleep apnea and gout flares. Published in the most recent volume of Arthritis & Rheumatology, the study examined 9,865 suffering from sleep apnea and compared their health to 43,598 people who did not have sleep apnea. The study corrected for sex, age, and obseity – three factors that affect the likelihood that you suffer from both gout and sleep apnea. The study found that people were 50 percent more likely to have gout flares if they had been diagnosed with sleep apnea. While the study does not conclude that sleep apnea affects uric acid levels in the blood, and while the study does not explain why sleep apnea increases incidences of gout, it does suggest that treating sleep apnea could help prevent attacks of gout. The lead author of the study, professor of medicine Yuqing Zhang, stated that the results call for further studies regarding uric acid, OSA, and gout.

Sleep Apnea Surgical Solutions

Treating your sleep apnea can improve your overall health in multiple ways. If you are looking for treatment alternatives to the CPAP device, or if you believe sleep apnea surgery may be the right choice for you, please contact us below to set up an in office or virtual consultation or call (855) 560-7378. [gravityform id="2" title="false" description="false"]