Can I go hiking in the wild if I have gout? Why does too much exercise also cause gout?

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. It is accompanied by pain and even affects movement. Appropriate exercise is beneficial for patients, so can people with gout go on outdoor hikes?

Can I hike outdoors if I have gout?

This question depends on different situations.

1. It is definitely not okay during the acute attack period of gouty arthritis. At this time, the joints are red, swollen, hot and painful, and it is difficult to even walk. You would not go even if you were asked to.

It is generally recommended to continue to rest in bed during the attack period, actively take symptomatic anti-inflammatory and analgesic measures, and engage in appropriate activities after the redness and swelling of the joints subside.

2. During the inter-gout period, if gout is treated in a standardized manner and the blood uric acid level is within the target range, you can exercise moderately. The amount of exercise varies from person to person. You still need to pay attention to your diet and drink plenty of water during the activity period.

Appropriate exercise can help control gout, but it should be noted that exercise should be moderate and not strenuous. During exercise, you should keep warm and avoid catching cold.

3. If you have recurrent gout that is difficult to treat and tophi are formed in the joints of your hands and feet, outdoor hiking is not recommended. It is very painful to have another gout attack during exercise.

Why does too much exercise cause gout?

According to the uric acid metabolism pathway, uric acid is mainly excreted from the body through urine. People who sweat a lot generally urinate less, so uric acid accumulates in the body. Secondly, with more sweat, the plasma is relatively concentrated, and the uric acid level is relatively high. Therefore, some people develop gout after strenuous exercise. Therefore, you must control the intensity of exercise and avoid excessive sweating.

In addition, gout patients should also choose aerobic exercise as the main exercise. Because anaerobic exercise will produce acidic substances such as lactic acid, and uric acid is also an acidic substance. Lactic acid and other substances will affect the excretion of uric acid from the body, thereby increasing the risk of accumulation in the body, so aerobic exercise is best.

Benefits of hiking for gout patients

Appropriate physical exercise is beneficial to human health, enhances physical fitness, promotes blood circulation throughout the body, improves heart function, stabilizes patients' blood pressure, and reduces cardiovascular complications.

Secondly, outdoor hiking can help people maintain a normal body weight, correct the body shape of obese people, promote the use of glucose by cells, and lower blood sugar, thus preventing and treating diabetes.

In addition, hiking can also reduce blood lipids and prevent atherosclerosis. Most gout patients are obese, overweight, have high blood lipids, and atherosclerosis.

However, you should also do hiking according to your physical condition and avoid excessive hiking to avoid having the opposite effect.