Gout disease is most common in people between the ages of 30 and 50 years of age. The reason for this is that it takes a build up of about twenty years to cause a first gout attack. Uric acid levels will usually begin to increase at least that far ahead of the onset of gout. However, this does not rule out gout in people younger than 30 years old. Therefore, just because you're under 30, it doesn't mean that you can't develop gout.



Although not common, gout disease can occur in those younger than 30 years old; usually as a result of an enzyme problem or kidney disease. However, when not a result of another problem in the body ? for example, when gout is simply hereditary in your family ? there are steps you can take to prevent the early onset of gout.

The first step is to make sure that you are always adequately hydrated. Of course, this is a good piece of advice for your health regardless of gout, but it is especially important when you are trying to prevent the condition. This is because hydration is the primary step for helping to flush uric acid from your body. The buildup of uric acid on the joints is the primary cause of gout and therefore the main goal of gout prevention is to stop that from happening.

Your next step is maintaining a healthy body weight. If you are overweight ? especially if you are obese ? it is important for you to speak to your doctor about losing weight gradually and in a healthy way so you achieve a healthy body mass and maintain it. Though being overweight doesn't directly cause gout, it can put you at higher risk of having attacks. However, take care not to lose weight too quickly as crash dieting can actually increase uric acid levels and lead to a gout attack.

Even if you are already at a healthy body weight, you should examine your diet and make healthy dietary changes to include optimum nutritional choices, and low quantities of foods that are both high in purines and in proteins. These foods, such as meat, fish, and beer, are the primary causes of increased levels of uric acid in the body and should therefore be avoided.

Reduce your alcohol consumption, especially if you tend to binge drink or drink to excess. Alcohol is not a cause of gout, but it can negate all of your other efforts to prevent gout disease from acting up. Alcohol will dehydrate your body and it causes uric acid to form. Therefore, it not only builds your uric acid levels, but it discourages your body from eliminating that uric acid. So it is best to avoid alcohol altogether when you are working to prevent gout disease.

If you have hyperuricemia, you are at a higher risk for gout disease. Hyperuricemia means that you already have high uric acid levels in your blood. If this is the case, your doctor may prescribe medications to help control that condition. By keeping hyperuricemia under control, you can also help to slow the onset of gout and prevent gout disease occurrences.

By taking these basic healthy precautions, you will be able to minimize the impact gout has on your life, and delay its onset for several years.