Why that irresistible taste of alcohol and red meat does you harm
Anyone who has suffered from gout will tell you that it is a very painful experience. It is also very common especially among people who eat too much meat and drink alcohol, the popular nyama choma culture in Kenya.
According to Dr Omondi Oyoo, Consultant Physician and Rheumatologist at Aga Khan University Hospital, gout is a condition characterised by pain and swelling of joints resulting from high concentration of uric acid in the blood.
He explained, “In people with gout, instead of the uric acid being excreted through the kidneys into the urine, a disorder in their bodies causes the uric acid level to increase forming crystals which are deposited in joints and other tissues. These needle-like crystals trigger an immune response that produces intense local inflammation with severe pain, swelling and tenderness especially in the big toe.”
MOST PAINFUL DISEASE
“Gout has been described as one of the most painful rheumatic diseases. When left untreated, the condition often worsens due to excess build-up of uric acid in joints. Attacks may subside after a few days, but over time they can keep recurring and cause severe arthritis, permanent joint damage, and even kidney disease.”
“Most people suffering from gout often have a diet rich in purines which includes red meat, some alcohols (including beer), sardines, mussels, mackerel, kidney, liver, meat extracts and yeast. Genetic predisposition only account for ten per cent of the root cause of the problem.”
Because of the ‘nyama choma’ culture in Kenya, gout is one of the fastest growing problems and the age group of patients suffering from this condition has come down from 40s to affect people as young as those in their 20s.
MAINLY AFFECTS MEN
Gout mainly affects men as women are protected by estrogen until they reach menopause then they become equally vulnerable.
The disease is further complicated by hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol.
The most effective way to treat gout is by the correct use of prescribed medication and dietary modification.
Dr Oyoo explains that this involves reducing intake of proteins, especially red meat to a plum size serving not more than three times per week.
When uric acid levels are very high, foods rich in purines should be avoided completely.