Many things in life are hereditary. This is true not just in tangible wealth, but diseases and behaviors as well! While it is nice to know that you are an heir for a renowned, stable and growing business empire, it is not so pleasing to know that you are a worthy successor for the disease of the kings.
This article aims to answer the question “is gout hereditary?”
Worthy Successor
“Did you inherit that seemingly endless land from your dad?”
“Wonderful eyes! Same as your mom’s”
“Your hair. Kinda reminds me of your dad”
You nod with pride as an affirmation for all these compliments and inquiries. Then there goes the follow up question.
“That protruding lump in your fingers. Must be painful. Did you get it from your dad?”
It is tempting to say yes, but let me tell you one thing. If someone asks me “is gout hereditary?” With a straight face and firm tone, I will definitely say NO.
Whether you are an heir of a business tycoon or simply a son of an alcoholic good-for-nothing, you will never inherit gout. Gout is not a ticking time bomb encrypted within your DNA and will go tick-tock-tick-tock and BAAHM! No. that is not the case.
You are not fated to have a crystal lump in the joints, mostly because there is no such thing as a gene that will instruct your cells to go and gather uric acid to help it crystallize. However, there is this condition called Lesch-Nyhann Syndrome. It causes an HPRT gene deficiency, which then leads to overproduction of uric acid. Increased volume of uric acid will then accumulate and as they reach the saturation point, they crystallize triggering your autoimmune responses. Gout attack.
Lesch-Nyhann Syndrome is not the sole genetic factor. Weirdly, gout inheritance is noticeable even to those who do not have the said syndrome. The exact reason is still unknown, but logical thinking suggests one thing: culture and behavior inheritance.
Q: Is gout hereditary?
A: Nope. But culture and behavior are. Unless it is Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome
It’s the NORMS
It is a matter of culture. Usually, it is the family culture that dictates gout. If your dad loves barbeque parties and some binge-drinking party, it is likely for your to inherit the same desire and culture, sometimes because you are directly involved (barbeque party, yey!) It is possible for you to adapt the bad practice thus making both you and your dad susceptible to gout. Furthermore, it is highly likely that you eat the same foods your family eats as you share the same meal. If your family diet consists of high purine foods, then it is highly likely that both you and your parents will get gout thus creating the illusion that gout is hereditary. Another example is if your family is heavy coffee drinkers. Caffeine is rich in purine. Hence, a family who drinks coffee together suffers from gout together.
Food preference is also hereditary. Meat gives you craving? It is highly likely that your children will experience such cravings as well. Thus, increasing the chances of gout and creating another illusion that gout is hereditary.
What Now?
Gout, to some extent has factors that can be hereditary. Does that mean that if you happened to have lesch-nyhan syndrome you are already fated to suffer from gout? Of course not. Genes maybe beyond your control, but uric acid is not.
If your body is teeming with uric acid, why not help it get rid of uric acid? In the process, you will treat both gout and hyperuricemia. There will be no uric acid crystals without uric acid. That said, the question will be how will you help yourself get rid of uric acid.
For starters, you can reduce your purine intake. Next, you can reverse acidosis in order to treat your gout. Aside from purine, what do you think is common between the foods that are bad for your gout? They are all acidic. Meat gives you gout attack. Why? Because meat is acidic. Spinach gives you out attack. Why? Because it yields oxalate. Oxalate becomes oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is acidic. It is not just purine, but acids as well.
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