From Eating Habits to Drinking Alone, hon drinking alcoholic gout
Avoid high fat and high protein diets
Eating habits purine rich foods
highballs and cocktails are risky
After the COVID-19 pandemic, the culture of 'solo drinking' and 'home drinking' has become widespread. This trend allows people to comfortably have a drink without worrying about the judgment of colleagues, friends, or others, and it's relatively cost-effective in terms of alcohol and snacks. Such solo and home drinking culture has gained significant popularity, especially among people in their 20s and 30s.
The issue is that the number of 'young gout patients' is increasing. Gout primarily occurs when consuming foods or drinks rich in fat or protein. According to the data on gout patients by age group from 2018 to 2022, released by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, gout patients increased by approximately 18.3%, from 439,953 in 2018 to 509,699 in 2022. Notably, the increase in the 20s was 48.5%; in the 30s, it was 26.7%, indicating a higher growth rate than other age groups.
In the past, gout was mainly observed in men in their 40s and 50s. However, due to dietary habits focused on meat consumption, the younger generation is increasingly experiencing metabolic diseases such as obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes, leading to a shift in the age group affected by gout.
Professor Song Jung-soo of the Rheumatology Department at Chung-Ang University Hospital explained, 'Recent increases in young gout patients can be attributed to changes in dietary habits, alcohol consumption, lifestyle, and stress.' He emphasized, 'The consumption of high-fat and high-protein foods, along with the culture of drinking alone at home, has resulted in reduced physical activity and an increase in obesity as the primary causes.
Gout is a condition where uric acid accumulates in the body and deposits in the joints, causing inflammation. Uric acid is the final product left after the metabolic process of purines, which are essential amino acids primarily excreted through urine. However, if you consume too many foods with high purine content or if uric acid is not excreted correctly due to kidney dysfunction, it can accumulate in the joints, kidneys, blood vessels, and other areas. When white blood cells mistakenly attack uric acid as if it were bacteria or a virus, an inflammatory response occurs, leading to gout.
Foods rich in purines, such as chicken and meat, can trigger gout. Not only beer but also soju, makgeolli, wine, and other alcoholic beverages have high purine content, so caution is necessary. In addition to soju and beer, popular mixed drinks like highballs and cocktails also contain excessive amounts of sugar and can exacerbate the risk of gout attacks.
Professor Song Jung-soo mentioned, 'Alcohol makes the body acidic, hindering uric acid excretion.' He emphasized, 'In particular, mixed drinks like highballs and cocktails contain not only alcohol but also carbonation and excess sugar, which significantly elevate uric acid levels in the blood, further increasing the risk of gout attacks.'
Excessive drinking, overeating, and obesity are the major factors that trigger gout. Therefore, it's essential to prevent gout through practices like maintaining a healthy weight, moderate alcohol consumption, and avoiding overeating. However, abrupt weight loss and strenuous exercise can also trigger gout, so caution is advised.
Going on a sudden fasting diet for weight loss can cause uric acid to accumulate in the joints, leading to severe joint pain. Additionally, rapid fluctuations in blood uric acid levels can increase the risk of gout attacks.
Consuming only high-protein foods like chicken breast, meat, and fish for dieting can have a similar effect. Protein generates many waste products during digestion, and excessive protein intake can lead to the overproduction of uric acid during protein metabolism.
Professor Song Jung-soo advised, 'Excessive and strenuous exercise can cause cells in the body to break down significantly, leading to an increase in uric acid inside the cells and the potential for gout attacks. Therefore, extreme exercise should be avoided.'
※ Key Symptoms of Gout
1. Suddenly, one joint, such as the big toe, ankle, or knee, becomes intensely red, swollen, and painful to the point where you can't even touch it.
2. Severe gout may be accompanied by fever and chills.
3. When arthritis first occurs, it resolves independently after a few days, seeming to recover completely. However, it may reoccur after a considerable period of remission.
4. Inflammation often occurs in the joints of the big toe. Arthritis can also occur in the knees, feet, ankles, wrists, elbows, and other joints.
5. Even the slightest touch of a thin blanket causes pain, making it impossible to wear socks or walk properly.
6. Pain intensifies at night, leading to sleep disturbances.
