However, according to MSc.BS Pham Cong Danh - Nutrition - Diet Specialist, Minh Anh International Hospital, high uric acid is not synonymous with gout and not everyone needs medication.
Many cases only suffer from a symptomatic hyperuricemia, meaning that the uric acid level exceeds the normal threshold but urate crystals have not yet formed, causing arthritis, kidney stones or other complications. In fact, only a part of people with hyperuricemia will develop gout.
According to MSc.BS Pham Cong Danh, anti-uric acid drugs are usually indicated for people with gout who have two or more acute gout attacks in a year, have tophi granules or have joint damage due to gout on diagnostic imaging.
In some cases of first-time gout attacks but very high uric acid levels (above 9 mg/dL), chronic kidney disease from stage 3 onwards, or a history of uric acid kidney stones, doctors may consider early treatment after assessing benefits and risks.
Conversely, if there is only increased uric acid in the blood but no gout attack or related complications, most patients do not need to take medication but prioritize lifestyle adjustment and periodic monitoring.
According to doctors, people in this group should maintain a reasonable weight, limit alcohol and high-fructose sugar drinks, build a balanced diet, drink enough water, increase exercise and re-examine according to doctor's instructions.
In the early stages of detection and medication has been indicated, you need to have regular blood tests according to your doctor's schedule (usually every 2-5 weeks or about every month during the dose adjustment phase) to monitor treatment effectiveness, liver and kidney function and adjust the dose of medication when needed.
When your uric acid level has reached the target (usually below 6 mg/dL for most gout patients) and remains stable, you should have regular check-ups and check-ups about every 6-12 months or as directed by your doctor, especially if you have chronic kidney disease, hypertension or accompanying metabolic diseases.
MSc.BS Pham Cong Danh noted that lifestyle changes help reduce the risk of gout attacks and improve metabolic health, but the level of uric acid reduction is usually not much. Therefore, patients need to be monitored periodically to be evaluated by doctors and decide when to treat with medication if necessary.
