What do Alexander the Great, Charlie Chaplin, Gaius Julius Caesar, Christopher Columbus, Michelangelo, Isaac Newton, Leonardo da Vinci and others have in common?
All these famous personalities of different eras could not escape gout – an unpleasant disease, which is often called the "disease of kings".
Gout occurs when purine bases accumulate in the blood, which break down into uric acid. Its excess in the human body causes the appearance of gout with all its consequences – damage to the kidneys and joints. Purines enter the body with food. In a healthy body, they break down and are excreted by the kidneys. Therefore, first of all, you need to monitor your diet. If you consume a lot of red meat, fatty fish, alcoholic beverages (especially cognac and beer), coffee and chocolate, there is a high probability of falling ill with the "disease of kings". However, not only the uncontrolled consumption of certain products leads to the occurrence of this disease. Its appearance is also provoked by infectious diseases, kidney pathologies, insufficient fluid intake, etc.
The danger of gout is that it runs asymptomatically for a long time in the body, and a person often has no idea about the illness until the onset of the first attack of gout. It can be provoked by a wide variety of factors – excessive physical exertion, trauma, stress, diet disorders, overheating, hypothermia, starvation.
How does gout signal itself for the first time? The first symptoms always appear unexpectedly – a sharp pain in the toe, swelling and redness in the place of pain, an increase in body temperature. The first attack does not last long, but repeats after several hours. This can last up to ten days.
What to do if this happened to you or someone close to you? Contact a rheumatologist and undergo the necessary examinations that he will prescribe as soon as possible. Start the treatment and adjust your lifestyle.
If you are unable to see a doctor immediately, then in order not to provoke a worsening of the condition, minimize the consumption of: alcohol, smoked products, sausages, legumes, hot spices, lard, meat broths, offal (heart, kidneys , liver), fish, mushrooms, sharp cheese, chocolate, strong tea, coffee, cocoa, canned food, sorrel, eggplant, spinach, fatty creams and raspberries.
However, you should not delay a visit to a doctor. A gout attack is sure to recur even though there could be no symptoms between the attacks. Additionally, if gout is neglected and not treated, overtime it will affect all joints – both in the hands and feet. Kidney failure, arterial hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and even aseptic necrosis of the femoral head may also occur, which will require joint endoprosthesis.
Here, at the Kalyna. Centre of Modern Medicine, Ulyana Abrahamovych – a rheumatologist of the highest qualification category, Doctor of Medical Sciences, and an Associate Professor – receives patients with gout or suspicion of this disease.
To book an appointment with Ulyana Abrahamovych, call 096 099 03 09.
Kalyna. Centre of Modern Medicine – competent diagnosis and effective treatment.