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Xiao Ming, who has just entered puberty, has been feeling a dull pain in his ankle recently. At first, he thought he had twisted his way from playing football, but the pain never eased.
Accompanied by his parents, he went to the hospital for an examination, and the results surprised the whole family - Xiao Ming's uric acid value was as high as 530μmol/L, far beyond the normal range!
The doctor's diagnosis was shocking: the 15-year-old boy was suffering from gout.
This disease, which is usually considered the "disease of middle-aged wealth", actually found a teenager who had just stepped into puberty. This case is not unique, in recent years, more and more young people, even the "post-10s", have begun to show symptoms of gout.
What exactly causes this to happen? The answer may lie in our daily eating habits.
Gout, once thought to be a disease that only dignitaries can suffer, is now quietly eyeing our next generation.
According to the epidemiological survey of gout in China, the prevalence of gout in mainland China has reached 1.1%, and it is increasing year by year. More worryingly, the age of onset is decreasing, and the proportion of young patients under the age of 30 is increasing significantly.
Xiao Ming's case is not alone. Zhang Hongxia, chief physician of the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Wuhan First Hospital, once treated a 12-year-old gout patient. The young patient's preference for carbonated drinks, at least one bottle a day, coupled with a large intake of meat and seafood, eventually led to a spike in uric acid levels, which caused gout.
What is the reason for the gradual decrease in the age of gout patients?
Medical experts point out that this is closely related to changes in modern lifestyles. Factors such as fast-paced lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, and lack of exercise can all be "accomplices" in inducing gout.
Let's break down this dreaded "gout package":
High-purine foods: Foods such as beef and mutton, animal offal, and seafood contain a lot of purines. Excessive intake of these foods can lead to an increase in uric acid levels in the body.
Sugar-sweetened beverages: Fructose in sugar-sweetened beverages such as carbonated drinks and fruit juices accelerates the metabolism of purines in the body, thereby increasing the production of uric acid.
Alcohol: Beer in particular contains a lot of purines, and alcohol also inhibits the excretion of uric acid.
Refined carbohydrates: White bread, cakes, candies and other foods can cause a rapid rise in blood sugar, which in turn affects the metabolism and excretion of uric acid.
Lack of exercise: Long-term lack of exercise can slow down metabolism and affect the excretion of uric acid.
This "set menu" may seem delicious and tempting, but it has hidden health risks. Especially for teenagers who are in their formative years, this eating habit can have long-term effects on their health.
Gout is not just a painful disease, it can also trigger a range of complications. Long-term hyperuricemia may lead to kidney stones, kidney damage, and even an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. For growing teens, these health risks are even more difficult to ignore.
Faced with this situation, how should we respond? Prevention is always the best medicine. Here are a few tips for every family to take into account:
Reasonable diet: reduce the intake of high-purine foods and increase the proportion of vegetables and fruits. Moderate consumption of lean meat, fish, and other high-quality protein sources.
Control sweetened drinks: Try to avoid sugary drinks and drink plenty of plain water. If you really want to drink something sweet, you can choose sugar-free tea or diluted fruit juice.
Stay away from alcohol: For minors, alcohol should be kept away. Adults should also drink alcohol in moderation, especially to control their beer intake.
Choose whole grains: Replace refined carbs with whole grain foods like whole wheat bread and brown rice.
Keep moving: Get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, etc.
Regular medical check-ups: It is recommended to have a uric acid test once a year to detect problems early.
In addition to these precautions in daily life, we also need to fundamentally change some bad eating concepts. For example, many people think that "the more you make up, the better", especially for children who are growing up. As everyone knows, excessive nutritional supplementation may be counterproductive.
Experts emphasize that a balanced diet is the key to good health. For teenagers, the diet should be adjusted according to their own growth and development needs and activity level. Excessive intake of certain nutrients not only does not promote growth, but can lead to health risks.
In addition, we should also pay attention to food education. Many young people like to follow food trends, such as "Internet celebrity food", "check-in food", etc. These foods are often high in calories, fat, and sugar, and long-term consumption is extremely bad for health. Parents and schools should strengthen healthy eating education for adolescents and cultivate their correct dietary concepts.
While gout is closely related to dietary habits, genetics also play an important role. Studies have shown that if one parent has gout, the risk of the child is increased. People with a family history of the disease should pay more attention to their eating habits and check their uric acid levels regularly.
In addition to diet and exercise, it is also important to maintain a good routine and rest habits. Getting enough sleep helps the body metabolize waste products, including uric acid. It is recommended that teenagers get 7-9 hours of sleep every day and avoid staying up late.
In the face of the trend of younger gout, all sectors of society should also assume corresponding responsibilities.
For example, school cafeterias should provide healthier, more balanced meal options; Food companies should reduce the production of high-sugar and high-fat foods and develop more healthy foods; The government should strengthen the supervision of food safety and promote the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
Returning to Xiao Ming's story, after receiving the doctor's advice, he and his family began to adjust their diet and increase the amount of exercise. After checking again half a year later, Xiao Ming's uric acid level had dropped to the normal range.
This case shows us that as long as it is detected in time and the right measures are taken, it is not irreversible for young people to develop gout.
Prevention is always more important than cure. We shouldn't wait until symptoms develop to start focusing on health. From now on, let's work together to stay away from that tempting but dangerous "gout package" and protect the health of ourselves and the next generation.
Health is the most valuable asset in life, especially for growing teenagers, and it is the cornerstone of future development.
Gout, once considered the "disease of wealth", is now quietly threatening our next generation. This is not just a medical problem, but a social problem.
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