Warning for the "disease of kebab land"! It is particularly prevalent in men.

Dr. Lütfi Akyol, from the Rheumatology Department of Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Education and Research Hospital, issued a warning about the disease 'gout' in a city where liver consumption is high. Dr. Akyol said, "Diyarbakır cannot exist without liver. Instead of eating it every day, they can reduce it to 3-4 times. They can eat half a portion instead of a full portion. Our patients usually have a history of eating such a kebab, a liver. Gout disease is also known as the disease of kings or the disease of sultans in the old days. We are also in Diyarbakır. We can say that it is the disease of the kebab land."

Dr. Lütfi Akyol from the Rheumatology Department of Gazi Yaşargil Education and Research Hospital issued warnings for liver kebab, which is among the registered tastes preferred even in breakfasts of those living in the city. Dr. Akyol stated that excessive meat consumption causes 'Gout' disease along with genetic predisposition and said the following:

"WE SEE IT MORE IN MIDDLE-AGED MEN"

"The emergence mechanism of all rheumatic diseases is generally similar. Genetic predisposition, followed by triggering environmental factors. In order for gout disease to occur, there must be a genetic predisposition first, and then triggering environmental factors. The most important factor here is enzymatic problems that will cause an increase in uric acid levels in the blood. We see gout disease more in middle-aged men, men over 40 years old. We also see gout disease in patients who have diabetes, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, psoriasis, hematological diseases, leukemia, lymphoma, patients who have received radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and patients after trauma.

PAIN, HEAT INCREASE, REDNESS IN THE THUMB

In gout disease, especially severe pain, heat increase, redness in the big toe at night and towards morning. When the patient goes to bed at night, there is nothing wrong. They wake up with severe pain at night and towards morning. This pain is so severe that when patients come to the clinic, they cannot even wear shoes and socks due to severe pain in their feet. We can recognize those patients as soon as they enter the clinic. It can be swelling, pain, redness in the big toe, less frequently in the ankle, knee, and these joints. Its most important feature is that it occurs in attacks. Even if we treat or not, attacks improve spontaneously in 7-10 days. But if we do not treat, increasing attacks leave permanent damage in the joints. The disease that starts in the foot and knee gradually moves to other joints upwards. It can be in the ear, in the lung. In other words, the disease is not only a joint disease but also a disease that affects extra-articular organs. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are very valuable in this disease."

"WE CAN SAY IT IS THE DISEASE OF THE KEBAB LAND"

Dr. Akyol, stating that 'Gout' disease was previously known as the disease of kings or sultans, said, "We come up with this question; Diyarbakır cannot exist without liver. Shouldn't we eat meat because we will have gout? Shouldn't we eat liver? Will everyone who eats liver, who eats a lot of meat, become a gout patient? No. First of all, there must be a genetic predisposition to that disease. Then triggering environmental factors. A protein-rich diet is a risk factor for this disease, but it is not sufficient alone to be a gout patient. In our patients in Diyarbakır, there is usually a history of eating such a kebab, a liver. Sometimes we talk about it in a joking way. We say to our patients, 'You couldn't resist and ate it, right?' They say, 'Yes, doctor, we couldn't resist, we ate liver.' Gout disease is also known as the disease of kings or the disease of sultans in the old days. This naming was made because kings and sultans consumed more protein at that time. We are also in Diyarbakır. We can say that it is the disease of the kebab land."

"LIVER CAN BE EATEN 3-4 DAYS A WEEK INSTEAD OF EVERY DAY"

Dr. Akyol, stating that the diagnosis and treatment of the disease are not difficult nowadays, said, "It is an easily diagnosed disease, a disease for which we have medications, but it is a disease for which we are not at the level we want in treatment. Patients come with very severe pain. When their complaints improve, they disappear. Now, what the doctor will do here is to provide treatment and medication. What are the duties of the patient? They should use their medication regularly, go to their check-ups regularly. We do not need to bother the patients too much about the diet. When you tell them something that will not be applied, the patient is not already doing it, not applying it. Therefore, we need to give the patient a diet that can be applied. We need to find a middle ground with the patient in terms of diet. For example, they can eat for 3 or 4 days instead of 7 days. They can eat half a portion instead of a full portion. In other words, we do not have a diet that completely eliminates protein, that completely avoids eating meat. Sports, exercise are very valuable. We need to pay attention to drinking plenty of fluids and obesity. When all of these are carried out together in a balanced way, we can continue the treatment of our patient in a healthy way without causing any damage to the body, joints, or other organs," he said.