"Feeling like my leg is being cut off" Lee Su-geun goes all the way to Japan for treatment of 'this illness'... How serious is it?

Comedian Lee Su-geun (49) confessed to experiencing severe gout symptoms.

On the 5th, the YouTube channel 'Kim Seung-woo WIN' posted a video titled '[50-minute quick watch] Why do I never get tired of appearing on countless variety shows for a long time? Sharp self-analysis!!' In this video, Lee Su-geun revealed that he has a chronic illness. He said, "I have gout. It's completely chronic. I'm taking medication continuously," and "You can leave comments about gout. I'm almost like a doctor." He continued, "There is a hospital in Japan that specializes in gout, so I bought a ticket and waited about three hours," and "But they told me to go once every three months. How can I go to Japan every three months? So I came to Korea to find medication, and I kept searching and searching." However, Lee Su-geun also said, "But taking medication doesn't mean I won't have attacks," and "If I drink alcohol while on medication, a gout attack occurs. It feels like someone is holding a knife and cutting my leg in a dream. When I feel like I'm falling off a cliff and my leg is being cut, that's when the attack happens."

Lee Su-geun explained the reason for taking gout medication, saying, "It's because I want to drink alcohol. If I don't drink, uric acid doesn't build up, so I don't get gout. Avoiding fried foods or bluefish is enough," and added, "If you don't drink alcohol, you don't need to take medication." He continued, "Chugging 1000cc of cold beer is on my bucket list," and "Since I get gout, I can't drink it, but when I go home, I take a sip of beer when I'm thirsty and then throw it away. It's about restraint. Even now, I really want to drink beer."

The gout that Lee Soo-geun is experiencing is a condition caused by the excessive accumulation of uric acid that cannot be expelled from the body. Uric acid is a waste product generated when food is metabolized in the liver, and when it accumulates, it turns into crystals that deposit in the joints or surrounding tissues, causing inflammation. Therefore, when gout occurs, the joints such as the toes, fingers, and knees become red, swollen, and painful. It is also accompanied by fever and chills, and can deform the shape of the joints. Sudden onset of gout symptoms, known as a 'gout attack,' is so painful that it is said one cannot fall asleep without painkillers.

In particular, obese men should be more cautious as they are at high risk for gout. Excess visceral fat impairs metabolism, increasing the risk of developing gout. According to a study by the Rheumatology Center at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, gout patients have an average visceral fat area approximately 23㎠ larger than healthy individuals of the same age. Additionally, fat cells produce a substance called adipokine that causes inflammation, which can trigger gout.

Gout treatment involves medication to lower uric acid levels in the blood and supportive therapy to treat acute arthritis attacks. Dietary improvement is also very important for the treatment and prevention of gout. ▲Red meats such as beef and pork ▲Organ meats like liver and tripe ▲Dried shrimp ▲Dried anchovies ▲Beer ▲Bluefish, etc., contain high levels of purines, which raise uric acid levels, so it is advisable to avoid them. Additionally, managing underlying conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia well, maintaining regular exercise appropriate for one's physical condition, and preventing obesity are recommended.

<Source: Health Chosun>