Gout occurs when urate crystals accumulate in your joint, causing the inflammation and intense pain of a gout attack. Urate crystals can form when you have high levels of uric acid in your blood. Your body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines — substances that are found naturally in your body.
When gout causes severe joint pain, it is called a gout attack, a gout flare-up, or acute gout. Pain is typically accompanied by extreme joint tenderness, swelling, warmth, and skin redness. The symptoms may come on suddenly and without warning.
Experts estimate gout will affect 4% of Americans during their lifetimes, and often occurs in men and people over age 60.1 Typically, only one joint is affected at a time, but it is possible to have several joints affected during a gout attack.