Thanksgiving and gout: a Glenview podiatrist on holiday flare-ups
Glenview, United States - October 21, 2026 / North Shore Foot & Ankle (Glenview, IL) /
Purines in meat, poultry and seafood raise uric acid, the leading cause of gout. A Glenview podiatry practice explains why holiday meals can trigger a flare-up at the big toe and how it is treated.
Thanksgiving tables in Glenview will soon be loaded with turkey, ham and seafood starters, and for people prone to gout, the days after the feast can bring a painful surprise at the base of the big toe. According to North Shore Foot & Ankle, gout is a common type of arthritis that causes intense pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints, and it usually affects the joint at the base of the big toe.
The practice, which has a Glenview location on Compass Road, explains that hyperuricemia, an excess of uric acid in the blood, is the leading cause of gout. The body produces uric acid during the breakdown of purines, which are found in high amounts in foods such as meat, poultry, and seafood. When uric acid builds up, it can form needle-like crystals in the joint.
Gout attacks can come on quickly and keep recurring over time. During a flare-up, patients can have joint swelling, redness, intense joint pain and limited range of motion. Hypertension, cardiovascular conditions, and obesity are risk factors.
Treatment at North Shore Foot & Ankle aims to ease pain and prevent the next flare-up, with options that include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, prescription pain medications, corticosteroid pills or injections, and dietary and nutrition counseling. A red, swollen, painful big toe after a holiday meal is a reason to call, not to wait it out.
The Glenview location is at 2501 Compass Rd., Suite 120, and is open until 6:00 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays.
"A holiday meal heavy in meat and seafood is exactly the kind of purine load that can tip someone with high uric acid into a flare-up. If the big toe turns red, hot and too sore to walk on, call us. Gout is very treatable, and the sooner we see it, the sooner we can calm it down and work on keeping it from coming back," said a spokesperson for North Shore Foot & Ankle.
- Go easy on second helpings of meat and seafood.
- Drink plenty of water through the holiday.
- Know the signs: a red, swollen, very painful big toe.
- Call a podiatrist early in a flare-up.
- Ask about dietary counseling if attacks keep returning.
North Shore Foot & Ankle in Glenview is at 2501 Compass Rd., Suite 120. Patients with big toe pain can learn more about seeing a Podiatrist in Glenview or call (847) 282-3113.
About North Shore Foot & Ankle
North Shore Foot & Ankle is a podiatry practice with locations in Glenview and Grayslake, Illinois. Its podiatrists and foot and ankle surgeons treat gout, bunions, heel pain and plantar fasciitis, sprained ankles, plantar warts, toenail fungus, ulcers and more. More information is available at nsfootankle.com.
Contact Information:
North Shore Foot & Ankle (Glenview, IL)
2501 Compass Rd #120
Glenview, IL 60026
United States
A spokesperson for North Shore Foot & Ankle
(847) 282-3113
https://nsfootankle.com/
