Gout and higher risk of heart disease mortality [Ref: H08F05]

Gout tied to higher risk of heart disease mortality. ... noted Krishnan, an assistant professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. ...

Gout is a very painful form of arthritis that causes the joints to periodically become swollen, red and hot - most often affecting the big toe, though it also strikes the feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists.

Gout arises when uric acid crystals build up in the joints.

The body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines - substances found naturally in the body, but also in certain foods, like organ meats, anchovies, mushrooms and some seafood, such as herring and mackerel.

Some research has linked high uric acid levels in the body to a higher risk of cardiovascular trouble. Similarly, studies have found that men with gout have higher-than-average rates of heart attack and angina - chest pain caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart.

For more information, see http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_65326.html