With the increasing abundance of food in the public diet, the gout population is continuously increasing. According to statistics, about a quarter of patients experience joint pain before the age of 30. Therefore, early identification of high-risk groups for the development of gout can prevent the onset of gout and its complications. Gout is caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood, but people with high levels of uric acid do not always get gout. About 10 to 20 percent of people with high uric acid end up with gout; the remaining 80 to 90 percent have asymptomatic hyperuricemia, and the two are treated in completely different ways. High uric acid is a prerequisite for a gout attack and a warning sign. Generally speaking, patients with hyperuricemia are prone to co-occurrence of chronic diseases such as obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, etc. Therefore, it is very important to find out the possible co-occurrence of these diseases and to prevent and treat them together. If the uric acid level is too high in one test, it should be repeated in a month to determine if the level is persistently high, and if it is persistently high, a doctor should be consulted. If you have not had an attack of gout arthritis, you can follow your physician’s instructions and be followed up regularly (at least once a year). Once gout occurs, you should receive dietary control and medication as appropriate to avoid recurrent arthritis attacks that can lead to joint destruction and other complications. The course of gout and precautions The course of gout generally passes through the following four stages, and the status of each stage and the precautions to be taken are as follows: (a) Asymptomatic hyperuricemia Usually high uric acid values are found during routine blood tests, and there are no uncomfortable symptoms. At this stage, the following should be noted: 1. When hyperuricemia is detected, it should be followed up for further examination for other diseases, such as tumors, renal insufficiency, blood disorders, hypertension, hyperglycemia, heart disease, in order to treat these problems early. 2. Avoid taking drugs that induce hyperuricemia, such as diuretics, aspirin, and anti-tuberculosis drugs, etc. If the condition requires the use of these drugs, please discuss with your physician. (b) Acute gouty arthritis Sudden onset of acute redness, swelling, heat, and pain in a joint of the limb, even to the point of being unable to walk. Usually, the first attack occurs in the big toe joint. 1. Take medication on time to suppress the inflammatory response and improve the pain level, and do not adjust the use of uric acid-lowering drugs on your own. 2. If you do not have other comorbidities such as heart failure, kidney failure, or pulmonary effusion, take at least 2000 cc of water daily to help excretion of uric acid and prevent urinary stones. 3. In acute attacks, the intake of high protein foods must be limited, such as crustacean seafood, offal or thick gravy should be avoided as much as possible, and alcoholic beverages should be completely abstained from. 4. The inflamed joint will be red, swollen, hot and painful. Patients should rest more and reduce the amount of activity, and use a brace to prevent pressure on the painful joint when sleeping, and elevate the affected part to maintain a comfortable posture. 5. When changing the posture, the movement should be gentle and avoid collision. 6. Pay attention to safety when getting out of bed, use crutches or walkers for support if necessary. 7. Daily necessities such as cups of tea, boiled water or call bells should be placed by the bedside as much as possible to facilitate the patient’s access to them.