Private practice rheumatologist Dr. Micha Abeles is the former interim chief of the rheumatic diseases division at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Dr. Micha Abeles welcomes patients with many different types of rheumatic disease, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, and gout.

An inflammatory disorder characterized by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in joints, gout presents as a sudden onset of severe pain and redness in joints. While drugs such as allopurinol can reduce the risk of gout attacks by halting uric acid production, lifestyle may also play a role in the management of gout. 

Research has shown that excess amounts of meat and seafood in the diet predisposes individuals to more frequent gout attacks. Beverages sweetened with fructose also increase the risk of gout, as do alcoholic beverages, especially beer. Furthermore, serum uric acid levels can be increased by diuretics used to treat high blood pressure.

For the reasons listed above, first-line management of gout often focuses on improving dietary habits and reducing uric acid levels. Medications such as colchicine, NSAID's, and steroids are used to treat gout attacks when they do occur.