• Diet and Lifestyle Factors:
  The following causes of Gout, contribute to development of this painful condition
  
  • Foods such as shellfish and red meat
  • Alcohol in excess
  • Sugar-rich drinks and foods high in fructose.
• Medical Conditions:
  Certain diseases and conditions can also figure as possible causes of Gout, including:
  
  • Untreated high blood pressure
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Dyslipidemia (high cholesterol and/or triglycerides in the blood)
  • Atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries due to deposition of cholesterol)
  • Kidney disease
  • Trauma in the form of either injury to a joint or surgery
• Certain Medications:
  
  • Regular use of Aspirin (more than 1 or 2 aspirin a day)
  • Diuretic medicines
  • Chemotherapy medicines (usually used to treat cancer)
  • Medicines that suppress the immune system, such as cyclosporine, that are used to prevent your body from rejecting an organ transplant are also chief causes of Gout.
• Family History:
  Research studies indicate that heredity plays a role as one of the causes of Gout.
• Age and Sex:
  Gout occurs more often in men, primarily because women tend to have lower uric acid levels. After menopause, however, women's uric acid levels approach those of men. Men also are more likely to develop gout earlier - usually between the ages of 40 and 50 years.