Study Finds Gout Flare-Ups May Increase Risk Of Heart Attack And Stroke - HuffPost

While certain lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of cardiovascular events, genetics also plays a large role in determining your risk for heart attacks, heart disease and stroke.

A new study shows gout, a common form of arthritis, may be associated with a higher risk of both stroke and heart attack.

Gout flare-ups are linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke for some time after the flare-up happens, according to U.K.-based research published in the American Medical Association’s JAMA journal.

The study followed 62,574 people with gout and found that “patients who suffered a heart attack or stroke were twice as likely to have had a gout flare in the 60 days prior to the [cardiovascular] event, and one and a half times more likely to have a gout flare in the preceding 61-120 days.”.

If you suffer from gout and are nervous about the heightened risk of cardiovascular events, you can make a few simple lifestyle changes to improve your heart health while continuing to manage your gout.

Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a diet with lots of fruit, veggies and lean protein, not smoking and regular exercise are all ways to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke, according to the American Heart Association.

Walking for 21-minutes a day also cuts your risk of heart disease by 30%, according to Harvard Health.

While gout flare-ups may mean an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, there are ways to manage both your gout and heart health to help prevent these cardiovascular events from happening