Is there any connection between long haul
flying and gout attacks?
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JYY2
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Posts: 227
Posted: 12-01-04 02:20am
Certainly. Long flights can trigger
gout attacks whether you fly high altitude
or nap of the earth.
The health of the joints is maintained by
healthy joint (synovial) fluids.
There is nothing like blood vessels to
circulate synovial fluids in the joints.
The old fluids are squeezed out
through the spaces between the cells in
the joint capsules (synoviums) when we
carry weight or exercise. The fresh
fluids are produced by synovial cells when
stimulated by exercise. That is why
our joints feel better after walking,
running, and other exercises.
In a long flight there is not enough
exercise for a person to keep the joint
fluids "fresh". This results in
deterioration of joint fluids and joint
tissues, which lowers the ph in the
joints, causes the shedding of the
coatings to expose the raw urate (msu)
crystals, and triggers gout attacks.
The same can occur when we sit down for
too long anywhere. It's also part of
the reason why gout attacks occur most
often during the sleep hours. It may
also be the reason why geniuses are more
prong to gout -- unlike common mortals who
run around for daily choirs, the geniuses
sit down day and night keeping their
brains busy but not their joints.
To prevent gout attacks and other
arthritic discomfort, drink a lot of
fluids, alkalize yourself, walk around
often, and do some flying yoga in-flight.
They can be helpful.
