Increase in gout

Obesity and high blood pressure may be partly to blame for a rise in gout cases over the past 20 years.

Gout is an inflammatory arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling.

Medical evidence suggests gout is strongly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, high blood pressure and blood lipid issues.

Researchers in Boston looked at data on nearly 6,000 people who were surveyed once in the early 90’s and then again between 2007 and 2008.

They found the prevalence of gout continues to rise and now affects about 4% of North Americans.