A cold beer on a hot summer day may be a simple pleasure for many, but for others it can trigger debilitating pain.
With people in their 20s to 40s making up nearly half – 48 per cent – of all gout patients, young adults are increasingly being warned to take precautions.
The resulting inflammation irritates the nerves and leads to gout attacks, often felt as sudden pain in the big toe, ankle or knee.
“Gout used to be considered a typical middle-aged men’s disease, but due to modern lifestyle factors such as unbalanced diets and drinking alcohol before or after workouts, we’re seeing a noticeable rise among younger adults,” said Dr Hwang Ji-won, a rheumatologist at Kyung Hee University Hospital in Seoul.
Summer poses an even higher risk for gout flare-ups. Hot weather increases sweating, leading to rapid fluid loss and a rise in blood uric acid concentration.