HealthInfo Canterbury
Self-care for gout
If you have a diagnosis of gout, there are many things you can do to manage or improve your health. There are also things you can do to manage an attack and help prevent gout from coming back.
- Help prevent gout attacks by following this eating and lifestyle advice for gout. This explains how food and drink can affect gout.
- Know your uric acid level and aim to keep it low.
- Long-term control of your uric acid levels will help to reduce gout attacks in the future
- The target uric acid level is 0.36 mmol/L or less. You'll need to have blood tests once a month until you reach this level. After this, you can have blood tests every six to 12 months
- To keep your level low, you may need to take a urate lowering medicine long-term even when you are well.
- Complete a gout management plan with your GP or practice nurse. A gout management plan can help you manage gout attacks and track your uric acid level.
- Have a heart and diabetes check as people with gout have a higher risk of getting diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and kidney problems.
- Get support and information through Arthritis NZ.
Managing acute attacks
- Take your medication for an attack early and as prescribed by your doctor.
- Rest and put your painful joint up on a pillow.
- Mould ice or frozen peas (wrapped in a tea towel) around your joint.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Don’t stop taking your urate lowering medicine during an attack.
On the next page: Eating & lifestyle advice for gout
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed July 2021.
Review key: HIGOU-18727
