Brisk Walks May Help, Not Harm, Arthritic Knees

TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 -- If you suffer from knee arthritis and worry that walking will only worsen your damaged joint, a new study suggests you put your fears aside, slip on some sneakers, and take a brief but brisk walk.

The researchers estimated that if older adults with the condition added just 5 minutes of brisk walking to their day, their odds of needing knee replacement surgery could dip by 16 percent.

Genes, Not Diet, May Be Key to Gout Flare-Ups

THURSDAY, Oct. 11, 2018 -- Although many people suffering from painful gout flare-ups point to diet as the culprit, new research suggests DNA plays a much bigger role.

The findings challenge the long-held belief that diet is the major factor in gout, a joint disease that causes extreme pain and swelling. Gout is caused by hyperuricemia -- high blood levels of uric acid, which forms crystals that collect around the joints.

Study Sees No Link Between Gout Drug, Kidney Disease

MONDAY, Oct. 8, 2018 -- The gout drug allopurinol may offer some protection from kidney disease, according to a new study that upends traditional beliefs.

Some doctors hesitate to prescribe the drug to patients because of concerns it may raise their risk for chronic kidney disease, even though there is a lack of evidence to that effect.