In this audio guide, Dr. Nissreen Elfadawy and Dr. Chris Parker discuss gout, highlighting its reality as a systemic disease rather than a joint disease. They further discuss the roles of diet, lifestyle, and medicine for people with gout.

Join The Gout Show and learn from these experts as they discuss common gout myths and the best practices for managing and treating the causes and symptoms of gout.

Among the highlights in this episode:

00:08: Dr. Elfadawy describes the systemic impacts of gout in different areas of the body

01:22: Dr. Elfadawy describes the misconception of gout as just a joint disease, detailing how uric acid can build up and be deposited throughout the body, causing damage to major organs

04:01: Dr. Elfadawy discusses the proper treatment for gout, not just during times of pain, but through consistent medical and non-medical management

07:00: Dr. Parker clarifies the misconception that gout is not a serious disease and describes the long-term, serious impacts that gout can have on a person’s health if unmanaged

07:27: Dr. Parker debunks the myth that gout only impacts old, white men. Rather, gout can impact people of all genders, ages, and races, with some minor differences among diverse populations

09:23: Dr. Parker highlights the importance of seeing gout as a chronic illness with recurring flares. He describes the importance of monitoring uric acid levels in the blood with a medical professional

10:37: Dr. Parker tells patients that gout is not their fault, and describes the multi-faceted causes of gout that are out of a person’s control

11:54: Dr. Parker describes the myth that you can cure gout with diet alone. Instead, he recommends maintaining a healthy lifestyle while continuing to seek medical attention

13:37: Dr. Parker explains the role of purines in food for people with gout

Meet the Team

Host: Susan Jara, Director of Patient Education at GHLF.

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Associate Director of Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

This podcast was made possible with support from Amgen.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After living with gout for 16 years without proper treatment, Gary Ho finally connected with rheumatologist Dr. Chris Parker to find the care he was looking for. Now, Gary and Dr. Parker work alongside patients and specialists to better understand the complexities with diagnosing and treating gout.

In this episode, nephrologist Dr. Nissreen Elfadawy, Dr. Parker and patient advocate Gary, explore the complexities of gout, highlighting the importance of treating it as a systemic disease. Join them as they debunk common gout myths, discuss key treatment considerations, and share ways to seek support.

Among the highlights in this episode:

01:57: Dr. Parker and Gary discuss the myth of cherry juice as a treatment for gout

04:07: Dr. Elfadawy discusses the myth that gout is caused by a person’s lifestyle and diet and details the genetic factors underlying gout

04:58: Gary shares his journey with gout, including his initial symptoms, search for treatment, and finally, connecting with Dr. Parker

09:52: Dr. Parker shares his perspective on Gary’s story as a provider and describes the importance of speaking up about the symptoms of gout

11:45: Gary speaks about the affect  gout has had on his mental health before his diagnosis

12:59: Gary describes the pain of having a gout flare and the difficulty in seeking proper treatment for many people with gout

15:19: Dr. Elfadawy details the importance of managing gout symptoms, even when a person is not experiencing a gout flare

16:53: Dr. Elfadawy describes how pain management with over-the-counter medication can be harmful to a person’s kidneys, and describes alternative kidney-friendly medications

18:28: Dr. Elfadawy talks about the health benefits of controlling uric acid levels in people with gout

20:20 Gary describes his personal journey with pain management medication, and the impact on his physical health

21:12: Dr. Elfadawy notes some of the problems in treatment for patients with gout and shares the importance of persistence in seeking gout treatment

23:54: Dr. Parker adds to Dr. Elfadawy’s insights with his own perspective on different routes to treatment for people with gout

26:10: Gary tells patients how to find their own voice, and advocate for their own health when they visit a medical provider

Meet the Team

Host: Susan Jara, Director of Patient Education at GHLF.

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Associate Director of Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

This podcast was made possible with support from Amgen.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode 5 of The Gout Show, we meet Sharon Nandor, whose gout went misdiagnosed for years — or even decades. Sharon’s misdiagnosed pain and symptoms had a huge negative impact on her quality of life, ability to work, and her relationships with her husband, family, and friends, but she didn’t give up on the journey to get the right diagnosis. Sharon talks about fighting for better care and how getting on the right treatment (finally) can help get your life back.

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In episode 4 of The Gout Show, we meet Ross Weil, who was diagnosed with gout after toe pain sidelined him during a bachelor party ski trip. Ross attempted to treat his gout with diet changes, until he realized it was a lot of work — and not really helping. In this episode, gout experts will share which diet changes may help improve gout management, but explain that diet changes alone are rarely enough to control moderate to severe gout.

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In episode 3 of The Gout Show, we meet Oso Wallman, who gets candid about how painful and disruptive gout has been to his daily life. Oso is a professional chef who has to be on his feet all day at work. Gout pain has been so severe for Oso that he says few people can really understand what it’s like to have pain that halts your life to a standstill. Over the years, Oso has learned how to better manage and cope with his gout, including being aware of triggers that can bring on flares, like stress. He also shares advice about how to educate other people in your life about what it’s like to live with a chronic condition like gout.

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In episode 2 of The Gout Show, we meet Ken Lipshez, who first experienced gout symptoms as a teenager and now in his 60's, Ken has lived with gout for his whole adult life. Over time, Ken has seen how gout has affected many people in his family, which has changed his understanding about what causes gout and how to best manage it. While many people mistakenly blame gout on diet and lifestyle, Ken discusses the role of genetics and family history in gout. Steve learns from Ken what people can do to prevent gout if they have risk factors from their family or medical history.

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In the first episode of The Gout Show, we meet Ashley Newton, a gout patient who didn’t have telltale symptoms of gout, like red, painful toes. In fact, being a runner and experiencing knee pain after exercising is what ultimately helped her get diagnosed with gout. Ashley and Steve talk about the importance of being a proactive patient, staying on top of her symptoms, and how she doesn’t let gout define her life, especially when it comes to exercising and being active.

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The Gout Show is a new podcast about one of the oldest — and sorely misunderstood — health conditions. Gout is not just about painful toes or joints and it’s not caused by diet. Gout is a serious medical condition impacting nearly 10 million Americans, and it can cause real medical problems if left untreated. But the good news is that it is very treatable. The Gout Show is brought to you by the non-profit Global Healthy Living Foundation. For more resources about gout, go to https://creakyjoints.org/thegoutshow/

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