What is gout Gout, or gouty arthritis. It is a disorder of purine metabolism in the body, caused by an increase in blood uric acid, and is a type of arthritis, also known as metabolic arthritis. The usual site of attack is the big toe joint, but it can also be seen in the ankle joint, knee joint and other joints. Acute gout attacks are characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and severe pain, usually occurring at night, and the pain is so intense that it is difficult to sleep through the night. When the concentration of uric acid in the blood is higher than the normal range for a long time, it is called “hyperuricemia”. Uric acid in the blood rises due to excessive production and reduced excretion of uric acid. A continuous increase in the concentration of uric acid in the blood can lead to the accumulation of “urate” crystals in the soft tissues, causing severe joint pain and swelling and deformation of the joints. Hazards of hyperuricemia 1. deposited in joints → gouty arthritis → joint deformation; 2. deposited in kidneys → gouty nephropathy, uric acid stones → uremia; 3. stimulates blood vessel walls → atherosclerosis → aggravates coronary heart disease and hypertension; 4. damages pancreatic b cells → induces or aggravates diabetes. The higher the blood uric acid concentration, the higher the chance of gout symptoms. Recent large epidemiological studies have found that gout is associated with the consumption of alcohol (especially beer), excessive intake of meat and seafood (especially offal and shelled seafood), and recent studies have pointed out that high sugar (such as carbonated drinks and fructose) can cause gout. Treatment of gout and hyperuricemia 1. Seek medical consultation in the acute stage and apply drugs under the guidance of a doctor; 2. Alkalize urine and avoid drugs that raise blood uric acid; 3. Take drugs that inhibit uric acid production and promote uric acid excretion; 4. Actively treat metabolic risk factors related to blood uric acid: actively control hyperlipidemia, hypertension, hyperglycemia, obesity and smoking. Prevention of gout and hyperuricemia Regular health checkups and receiving blood uric acid values to prevent gout. If you have hyperuricemia, in addition to taking uric acid-lowering medications under the direction of your physician to keep your uric acid level within the normal range, you must eliminate all gout triggers from your life and diet. Avoid strenuous exercise or injury; limit high purine (offal, seafood), soft drinks and fructose; avoid vegetables with high purine content: soybeans, lentils, shiitake mushrooms and purple cabbage, etc.; prohibit alcohol: especially beer and white wine, but drink red wine as appropriate; control body weight; drink more water: >2000ml/day, alkalize urine for a long time: sodium bicarbonate is commonly used. Patients with cardiovascular disease and long-term diuretics should avoid using thiazide diuretics as much as possible.