Drinking alcohol to overcome heat harmful to joints

By Song Sang-ho

Alcohol consumption is one of the leading means to quench thirst for people who get exhausted by the summer heat.

However, since excessive alcohol consumption for refreshment and pleasure can damage joints, you must be careful.

Among joint diseases caused by alcohol are "gouty arthritis" and “femoral head avascular necrosis.”

Gouty arthritis is typified by severely swollen skin around the big toe joint and it causes excruciating pain.

This disease is prevalent among many male patients, mainly over 40 years of age.

The higher incidence of this disease is shown when people have the following diseases: hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis and diabetes.

Gout is a disease in which uric acid produced during the decomposition of the purine component of alcohol and high protein food causes inflammation around the joints and cartilage.

Among liquor beverages, beer contains significantly higher amounts of this component, while chicken, pork and other meats contain the same high amount as well.

Middle-aged men who usually enjoy drinking alcohol or eating meat should be cautious.

Once a person contracts a disease, it takes a long time to cure.

Since there is an incubation period, the pain could recur when a person drinks again.

The treatment of gout proceeds with lowering the level of uric acid.

First of all, the intake of alcohol and meat must be limited; and in case of severe pain, medication should be used.

If the symptoms are not improved in this way, the synovium and inflamed tissue should be removed using an endoscope and treatment should be conducted to eliminate the uric acid crystals.

Pain can be reduced after treatment, however, if uric acid levels are not controlled, there is a high probability of relapse.

Thus, steady management is needed.

Another joint disease caused by excessive drinking is femoral head avascular necrosis.

Like gout, this is known to be prevalent especially among middle-aged men and is a disease where the femoral head _ the top of the femur _ decays due to lack of blood and oxygen supply caused by excessive drinking.

As symptoms progress, a hole forms in the bone and it breaks and crumbles away.

Accordingly, the length of the leg is altered, making people limp.

In addition, pain might be felt in the vicinity of the hips and thighs.

It is also characterized by making it difficult to have a cross-legged posture.

But, since people are not familiar with the hip joint area and the pain site is vague, it is easy to miss time treating the disease.

When people go to hospital with pain, it could have already reached the 3rd or 4th stages and much damage may have occurred in many cases.

If there are symptoms where pain is sever during a cross-legged posture or where limping occurs among middle-aged men who usually enjoy drinking, the hip joint disease should be suspected.

In the initial stages, it can be treated by either medication or femoral head multiple drilling “which helps blood flow by drilling a hole in the femur.

The principle of this surgery is the bone can be revived after generating new bone cells by drilling a hole.

If the patient’s symptoms continue or is severe, the patient must undergo artificial joint replacement surgery.

In recent years, since surgical techniques have evolved, minimally invasive artificial joint surgery, which can preserve the muscles and tendons, has been implemented.

Since it becomes possible for patients to sit in a wheelchair or chair day after surgery unlike the past where six weeks of limited posturing was needed to prevent dislocation, patients can have confidence and focus on rehabilitation.

The common point between gouty arthritis and femoral head avascular necrosis that cause constraints on everyday life due to severe pain is that it is mainly caused by excessive drinking and is prevalent especially among socially active middle-aged men.

In particular, if middle-aged men develop any health problems, it can put constraints on their social activities and thus, all family members including the patient can face a hard time.

To avoid the heat, it will be wise to enjoy your summer if you enjoy a proper drink for health rather than giving excuses for inevitably having excessive drinks due to business.

The writer is the president of Wellton Bone and Joint Hospital.