How to treat gout

  Gout treatment mainly includes general treatment, medication and other treatments, of which medication is the main modality, the treatment aims to reduce the frequency of acute gout attacks, prevent the formation of uric acid stones and reduce organ damage.  General treatment is mainly life intervention, the basis for long-term treatment of gout by regulating lifestyle and diet of gout patients, avoiding high purine diet in life, avoiding high purine food such as animal offal and seafood, maintaining ideal body weight, drinking more water and keeping bowels and stools open. In addition, patients should achieve a correct understanding of the disease, eliminate fear and build up confidence in treating the disease.  Medication is the main treatment for gout. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers, colchicine and glucocorticoids can be used during acute attacks. The intermittent and remission periods require the use of uric acid production inhibitors or uric acid excretory drugs. For patients who already have gout stones or renal complications, relevant treatment is also needed according to the degree of the disease. In addition, Chinese medicine has a role in the treatment of gout, slowing down the progression of the disease and reducing adverse drug reactions, which can be applied after identification by a Chinese medicine practitioner.  If the gout stone is huge and affects the appearance and joint function, it can be removed surgically, or if the patient has severe joint deformity that affects the function, it can be corrected surgically.  In summary, the treatment plan for gout is based on medication based on life behavior intervention to achieve the purpose of reducing acute attacks and keeping the disease stable.