The metabolism product of purine is uric acid, with 80% of uric acid in the body originating from the metabolism within the body itself, of which 20% is derived from the digestion and breakdown of food.
It is known from the above that the majority of uric acid in the body comes from the body’s own metabolic products.
In fact, there is a funnel in our bodies that holds uric acid. If there is an abnormality in the funnel or an excess of uric acid, it may cause uric acid to flow into the bloodstream, increasing the uric acid content in the blood. If the uric acid content exceeds 410, it can be diagnosed as hyperuricemia in the field of medicine.
Now let’s look at a small case together, see if you have the symptoms of the characters in the case, but I hope you don’t.
Grandpa Wang is often awakened by pain in his feet in the early morning, with a pain likened to a knife cutting through his flesh from the soles of his feet to the ankle joint, and may also lead to leg pain.
The initial pain is not so noticeable, so Grandpa Wang did not pay too much attention. However, as the feeling becomes stronger, it can even become so intense that he cannot sleep and impacts his daily life.
In addition, Grandpa Wang has been suffering from gout for over 20 years, especially the pain brought to the body during gout attacks leaves him unable to speak.
Seeing that Grandpa Wang’s recent pain is severe, his wife took him to the hospital for a check-up, where the doctor’s diagnosis revealed that the pain Grandpa Wang experienced was closely related to his diet.
Because Grandpa Wang consumed too many high-purine foods, it led to an exacerbation of the pain. In the past, the number of gout cases in China was indeed rare, but in recent years, more and more people have been affected by gout, and many of these gout sufferers are young people.
With the development of the economy and society, people’s material living standards have gradually improved, especially in terms of diet, undergoing significant changes. People have become more casual in their food choices, eating whatever they want, and such dietary habits increase the risk of developing hyperuricemia, providing an opportunity for gout to occur.
A slight negligence in diet, if a large amount of high-purine foods are consumed, these foods will produce uric acid in the body after metabolism. If the uric acid content in the body continues to rise and gradually seeps into the blood, it can easily trigger gout.
There was an incident abroad where thousands of people simultaneously developed gout symptoms. After research and investigation, it was found that they had consumed the same canned meat, which contained a large amount of purine food additives in the canned meat, leading to acute gout.
In daily life, some foods we often eat contain high purine levels. If consumed in large quantities over time, they can cause an increase in uric acid levels in the body, leading to these foods being called “purine-rich foods”.
1. Alcohol, especially beer
Alcohol is a major factor in causing gout. Special substances in alcohol can stimulate the body to produce more uric acid, leading to a continuous increase in uric acid levels, posing health risks.
Additionally, alcohol can stimulate the central nervous system, affecting urination consciousness. If more uric acid is secreted and not promptly eliminated, gout symptoms can worsen.
2. Animal offal, red meat
Red meat refers to lamb, beef, pork, and other meats, with their color deepening during cooking. However, the purine index in these meats is too high. Excessive intake can raise the body’s uric acid levels. Animal offal such as pig liver, heart, and kidney should be consumed in moderation, especially for gout patients, it is best to avoid them as they contain high purine levels.
Although animal offal is a staple on the dining table and tastes delicious, when combined with alcohol, it can worsen gout symptoms.
3. Some seafood
Shrimp, shellfish, salmon, squid, and similar seafood are high-purine foods. Excessive consumption will increase uric acid secretion in the body, exacerbating gout symptoms.
4. Fructose drinks
These drinks with high sugar content can also promote more uric acid secretion in the body, leading to sustained increases in uric acid levels.
1. Joint deformities, gout stone phenomenon
With an increase in the uric acid index in the body, over time, pain and swelling in the joints will occur. Uric acid crystals will continue to accumulate in the joints, forming gout stones or causing joint deformities.
2. Sudden joint swelling, severe pain
Especially at night during sleep, experiencing sudden joint pain and redness may indicate an increase in your body’s uric acid content.
3. Frequent thirst, drowsiness
Frequent thirst in daily life, feeling dry despite drinking plenty of water, and occasional drowsiness can likely be due to uric acid impairing kidney function, preventing timely removal of toxins and waste from the body.
4. Abnormal night urination
If you frequently wake up to urinate at night, with an abnormally increased frequency, examine your urine to see if it appears cloudy or turbid. Cloudy urine may indicate elevated uric acid levels in the body, leading to increased urination.
5. Appearance of hematuria, renal colic, kidney stones, etc.
If the uric acid index increases in the body, damaging kidney function, some gout patients may develop gouty nephropathy, worsening the kidney burden, resulting in lower back pain, kidney stones, hematuria, and more.
1. Drink more water, avoid holding urine.
2. Control body weight appropriately, avoid obesity.
3. Avoid staying up late, change the habit of sitting for extended periods.
What other tips do you have to improve gout? Remember to share in the comments for the benefit of others.
#HealthEnlightenment#
