<strong>Got Gout? You may get kidney stones too.</strong>

If you have recurrent or chronic gout, there’s a good chance you will develop kidney stones. Both are caused when excess uric acid accumulates in the body. With gout, sharp-edged uric crystals collect and clump together in the joints causing inflammation and severe pain. Uric acid crystals also form one of the three types of kidney stones. Uric acid is a byproduct of purines, which are found certain foods and beverages. They include shellfish, red meat and alcohol — especially beer. Word to the wise: when thirsty, down some water instead of reaching for a brewski. Water won’t aggravate your gout and will also help flush small kidney stones from your body.