I have gout and can’t eat beans? Control uric acid first, no need to worry about imperial disease

If you have gout, you can’t eat beans? Doctors point out that gout is a disease of affluence caused by eating. Eating beans and their products for a long time will not increase the risk of gout, nor is it the main cause of gout. As long as the uric acid index and weight are properly controlled, gout patients can eat dried tofu and drink soy milk like normal people.

Gout is a disease of kings. Young people should be careful.

Dr. Xiao Kaihong from the Rheumatology and Immunology Department of Taipei City United Hospital Heping Branch pointed out that gout is also called the "emperor's disease" because eating too much, such as Manchu Han banquets, big fish and meat every meal, increases the uric acid in the blood and causes hyperuricemia. Currently, hyperuricemia is not exclusive to men, many middle-aged women also have it, so it must not be taken lightly.

According to statistics, gout patients have tended to be younger in recent years. Doctors point out that gout used to be more common in people over 40 years old, men, and obese people, but now half of gout patients are under 40 years old, and even high school students come to seek medical treatment. Gout has become a new health crisis for the younger generation.

Basically, gout is closely related to other diseases, such as high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. When hyperuricemia occurs simultaneously with other diseases, the drugs used will have different treatments, all of which aim to effectively relieve pain and reduce the risk of adverse complications.

When gout attacks, the most obvious symptom is joint pain, which is mostly concentrated in the heel.

Gout patients often take it lightly

Dr. Xiao Kaihong emphasized that when gout attacks, the most obvious symptom is joint pain, which is often so painful that one cannot walk. The pain is mostly concentrated in the big toe, heel, knee, etc. The area near the attack site will become red and swollen. If neglected, it can easily lead to urinary stones, kidney failure, and even death.

However, this type of pain is like a gust of wind, coming and going quickly, and usually disappears quickly after taking medication. Therefore, many patients take it lightly and forget about it after the pain is over. They continue to eat and drink without restraint until the next acute gout attack. If gout recurs over a long period of time, it will become chronic gout.

Diet control and reduce alcohol intake

Dr. Xiao Kaihong reminds us that the goal of gout treatment is to control uric acid below 6 mg/dL. You can start with diet control, try to limit your intake of high-purine foods, such as seafood, broth, soybeans, etc., and avoid drinking alcohol. If dietary control is not ideal, medication is needed to lower uric acid levels.

If the uric acid level returns to normal after 3 months of medication, you may consider temporarily stopping the medication. In the future, uric acid should still be checked by blood test at least every 3 to 6 months. You should drink more water on a daily basis to help excrete uric acid. However, it should be noted that drinking beer is more likely to cause gout. Other alcoholic beverages such as red wine have similar problems, but they are not as likely to cause gout as beer.

Control your weight and avoid rapid weight loss

In addition, obesity is one of the main causes of gout. If there is too much fat in the body, it will affect the excretion of uric acid. Therefore, maintaining a proper weight is an effective way to prevent gout. Obese people can consider losing weight through exercise and diet control. The ideal weight loss rate is to lose 1 kg per month.

However, it should be noted that if obese people lose weight quickly, their body tissues will produce a large amount of purine, which will lead to an acute attack of gout. In addition, patients with crystals in their joints should not exercise excessively, otherwise it may lead to recurrence of gout or even joint deformation.