Anyone ever have gout?

My husband has had gout which seems to flare up when he eats cow meat. I've looked it up on the internet (WebMd) and found out that it can be caused by meat (cow and lamb), beans. But, it seems that different things cause it for different people. Also, it seems to be hereditary. Am I right?

The main cause of most gout problems are foods high in substances known as purines. You can search online for lists of the main offenders, but generally speaking it's lean meats, organ meats, beans, nuts and very rich foods. In fact, gout was once known as a 'rich man's disease' because most people couldn't afford the types of foods high in purines. Nowadays that philosophy doesn't hold true.

You're right that different foods affect people in different ways. What happens is that the purines eventually become crystals, much like salt deposits, and these crystals tend to accumulate in joints like the big toe. This causes pain as the joint tissue becomes inflamed. Welcome to the world of gout. The good news is that the purine crystals eventually dissolve and leave the joint.

There is some evidence that a propensity for gout runs in families, but it's not strictly hereditary. Personal dietary choices have about as much to do with gout as family history. If you're prone to gout, cut down on those foods high in purines and be sure to drink plenty of fluids to combat crystal formation.

Some do some don't.

hereditary yes...my dad has it and it flares up when he eats asparagus and beans and nuts. and beer does it too. I think there are different triggers for different people. chocolate also flares it up. I think if you keep a list of triggers you've eaten when it flares you'll find a pattern.

Thankfully I've never had gout, however, I've known people who suffer/suffered with it. I'm told it's so painful, even the weight of a bed sheet hurts. Allopurinol seems to be the drug often prescribed for gout.
As an aside, I'm told gout is sometimes known as the Royal Disease as members of the British Royal Family have suffered with it.

I had gout several times real bad, so I got a list of foods that caused gout and stayed away from everything on that list. Well it kept getting worst till I did some searching. There are some meds that can cause gout in some people I found that it was a diuretic fluid pill causing my problem.for me it was a catch 22 cause I needed the fluid pill. So my doctor gave me a low dosage of Allopurinal and colchicine daily. I found that if I skip too many days taking those I can feel the gout start to come back.