Is gout prone to attack in winter?

　　With the cold winds in winter, many gout patients find that joint pain attacks become more frequent and the pain becomes more intense. Is gout prone to attacks in winter? How to quickly relieve pain during a gout attack?

Is gout prone to attack in winter?

　　Gout is prone to attack in winter, and low temperature and bad living habits are the main triggers. When the temperature is low in winter, blood vessels in human joints constrict and blood circulation slows down. Urate crystals are easy to deposit in the joints, triggering inflammatory reactions. At the same time, people reduce outdoor activities in winter, the body's metabolic rate decreases, and the uric acid excretion ability weakens. In addition, in winter, people often consume warm foods with high purine content, such as hot pot and mutton, and may drink more alcohol, which will lead to an increase in uric acid levels in the body. Under the dual effects, the probability of gout attacks increases significantly, especially when the temperature is low at night, attacks are more common.

How to quickly relieve pain during a gout attack

　　1. Apply cold compress to relieve pain in time

　　Wrap an ice pack or cold towel in a towel and apply it to the painful joints for 15-20 minutes each time, repeating every 1-2 hours. Low temperature can constrict blood vessels, reduce inflammation, edema, and relieve pain, but avoid direct contact of ice cubes with the skin.

　　2. Keep the joints braked and elevated

　　Reduce activities during an attack and avoid pressing or rubbing painful joints to prevent inflammation from worsening. Elevate the painful joint above the level of the heart, such as by padding the legs, to promote blood return and reduce joint swelling.

　　3. Drink plenty of warm water

　　Drink warm water immediately and keep the daily water intake at 2000-3000 ml. By increasing the amount of urine, it can promote the rapid excretion of uric acid from the body, reduce the concentration of uric acid in the body, and help relieve symptoms.

　　4. Standardize the use of analgesics

　　Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, diclofenac sodium, etc., under the guidance of a doctor. These drugs can quickly inhibit the inflammatory response and relieve pain. Avoid increasing the dose on your own to prevent side effects.

　　5. Adjust diet structure

　　Immediately stop eating high-purine foods, such as animal offal, seafood, thick broth, etc., and avoid drinking alcohol. Choose a light diet and eat more fresh vegetables and fruits to reduce the sources of uric acid production.

　　To prevent and control gout in winter, special attention should be paid to keeping warm and eating well. The above methods can quickly relieve acute pain. If the attacks are frequent or the pain is severe, you should seek medical treatment in time and formulate a long-term uric acid-lowering plan to reduce the frequency of attacks.