Approximately two million U.S. citizens have gout symptoms every year. Decreasing your chances of getting gout require you to know the signs to be alert for so you can get treatment immediately and lessen the time it takes for you to get better. With the following signs below, you’ll be armed with knowledge that’ll help you better avert the more damaging aspects of gout.

You’ll probably wake up to the first of several gout symptoms with a jolt. You’ll feel the throbbing of an inflamed joint, and when you peel back the bed sheet to take a look, you’ll see a shiny red joint with skin tightly pulled over it. More than likely, your big toe will be the offender, but other joints can join the party too. Keep an eye on your fingers, wrists, elbows and ankles.

Next, monitor the pain your joint to see if it becomes more painful over several hours. After a few hours have passed, you may not even be able to touch the joint without wincing due to the excruciating pain.

Sometimes gout symptoms can come in the form of feelings of extreme tiredness and a slight fever. If you feel chronically fatigued and listless in addition to having a painful and swollen joint, then you probably are suffering from gout. Also, take your temperature: 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in addition to that painful joint may signal gout too.

So, to go over the gout symptoms checklist again, ask yourself the following questions:

- Do you have a swollen and shiny red joint that feels warm and painful?

- Does the pain increase over a few hours time?

- In addition to the painful joint, do you have a slight fever or do you feel fatigued?

If so, get treatment from your doctor or try a gout symptoms remedy as soon as you can.