<Anchor>
Gout, which is said to be painful even when the wind is brushed against it, is known to be a typical symptom of such severe pain and arthritis.
However, patients with gout have a higher risk of kidney failure or cardiovascular disease with reduced renal function, so caution is needed.
This is Yoo Seung-hyun, medical reporter.
<Reporter>
Choi Byung-seop, 58, who has been taking high blood pressure medications for 10 years, was diagnosed with gout six years ago.
[Choi Byung-seop (58) / gout patient: It hurts even when the wind rubbed it. At that time, the pain got worse and there was a lot of swelling in this place.
I couldn't walk because it hurts here.]
I also had 3 surgeries to remove the gouty nodule caused by the accumulation of uric acid.
He took the medicine and got much better, but other abnormalities were discovered.
[Song Jeong-soo/Professor of Rheumatology, Chung-Ang University Hospital: The kidney function is also a little bad, and the blood vessel wall is narrowing by about 30% here.]
After gout occurs and time passes, uric acid accumulates in the joints or around it, causing a 'gout nodule'. A lump may develop.
However, when this uric acid accumulates not only in the joints but also in the kidneys and blood vessels, the kidney function decreases and arteriosclerosis occurs.
In a study of 3,300 patients diagnosed with gout in Korea for 6 years, the risk of acute myocardial infarction was 3.2 times higher and the risk of stroke 1.6 times higher than those without gout.
Gout patients were also more likely to have high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.
[Song Jeong-soo / Professor of Rheumatology at Chung-Ang University Hospital: I know only gout as a joint disease, but arthritis is just the tip of the iceberg of the big disease called gout.
They die from serious diseases such as chronic kidney disease and arteriosclerosis.
Gout.]
Gout is mainly in middle-aged men, but the number of patients in their 20s and 30s is also increasing.
If you have risk factors such as obesity, kidney disease, alcohol consumption, or a family history, it is recommended to avoid excessive drinking and overeating and exercise regularly.
Even if you do not have gout symptoms, high uric acid levels require proactive management.
(Video coverage: Kim Won-bae, video editing: Choi Eun-jin, CG: Lee Jun-ho)