William I of Prussia, a passionate painter, often autographed his works with “tormentis pinxit” — “painted in pain” — as a nod to his struggles with gout. Other historical figures like King Henry VIII of England and Benjamin Franklin also suffered from this “disease of kings,” which was common among people indulging in luxurious diets.
Gout is primarily caused by high levels of uric acid in the body. Uric acid forms as the body breaks down purines, which are found in foods like red meat and seafood. Normally, the kidneys filter out uric acid. However, if the body produces too much of it or the kidneys fail to eliminate it efficiently, uric acid crystals can form and settle in the joints, leading to the painful symptoms of gout.
Gout often manifests suddenly with severe joint pain, commonly exhibited in the big toe. Affected areas swell, redden, and have a tendency to become hot. The pain can be so intense that even a light touch feels unbearable. Gout attacks usually last several days, and while they can resolve on their own, they may recur if the underlying causes are not addressed.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / 照片：維基共享資源提供
Treatment for gout focuses on managing symptoms and preventing future episodes. Medications can help reduce pain and inflammation during attacks. Lifestyle changes are equally crucial: maintaining a diet low in purines, cutting back on alcohol and staying hydrated can help control uric acid levels.
While gout was once known as the “disease of kings,” today it affects people from all backgrounds. By understanding its causes and adopting effective treatments, individuals can significantly improve their quality of life.
普魯士的威廉一世是一位充滿熱情的畫家，他經常在作品上簽名寫下「tormentis pinxit」——意為「在痛苦中繪畫」——以此向他與「痛風」抗爭的經歷致意。其他歷史人物如英格蘭的亨利八世國王和班傑明‧富蘭克林也曾患有這種「國王的疾病」，而這種疾病常見於那些沉迷於奢華飲食的人之中。
痛風的主要成因是體內「尿酸」濃度過高。尿酸是在身體分解普林時產生的，而普林存在於紅肉和海鮮等食物中。正常情況下，腎臟會過濾尿酸。然而，當身體產生過多尿酸或腎臟無法有效排除尿酸時，尿酸結晶可能會形成並堆積在關節中，導致痛風的疼痛症狀。
痛風通常會突然發作，伴隨著劇烈的關節疼痛，最常見於大腳趾。受影響的部位會腫脹、發紅，並有發熱的趨勢。這種疼痛可能非常強烈，即使是輕微的觸碰也感到難以忍受。痛風發作通常持續數天，雖然可能自行緩解，但如果沒有處理根本原因，可能會復發。
痛風的治療重點在於控制症狀和預防未來的發作。藥物可以在發作期間減輕疼痛和發炎。生活方式的改變同樣至關重要：維持低普林飲食、減少酒精攝取以及保持身體水分充足都有助於控制尿酸濃度。
雖然痛風曾被稱為「國王的疾病」，如今它影響著來自各種背景的人。透過了解其成因並採取有效的治療措施，可以顯著改善個人生活品質。
MORE INFORMATION
gout n. 痛風
Prussia n. 普魯士
uric acid 尿酸
purine n. 嘌呤
(又譯作普林，新陳代謝過程中的一種代謝物)
recur vi. 復發
inflammation n. 發炎
hydrated adj. 攝入足夠水分的
KEY VOCABULARY
1. passionate adj. 熱情的；情緒激昂的
Martin is a passionate musician who pours his heart and soul into his performances.
馬丁是一位充滿熱情的音樂家，將全部心力投入到表演中。
2. autograph vt. 親筆簽名於……
The famous actor autographed hundreds of posters for his fans after the premiere.
那位著名的演員在首映會後為粉絲簽名了數百張海報。
3. filter v. 過濾；濾除
filter out 過濾掉…
The difficult application process filters the lazier candidates out.
這項困難的申請流程過濾掉較懶散的候選人。
4. crystal n. （結）晶體
Salt crystals formed on the surface of the rock after the seawater evaporated.
海水蒸發後，岩石表面形成了晶鹽。
5. manifest vt. 顯示；表現
The results of the last election manifested a sudden change in voting behavior.
上次的選舉結果顯示了選民投票行為的突然轉變。
6. tendency n. 傾向；趨勢
Our customers have a tendency to buy new phones every three years or so.
我們的顧客傾向於每三年左右買一支新手機。
7. episode n. 經歷；事件；（影視）一集
Josh couldn’t recall Mary’s name while chatting with her at the party. The whole episode was so embarrassing.
喬許在派對上與瑪麗聊天時竟想不起她的名字。這整段經歷實在太尷尬了。
8. alcohol n. 酒；酒精
Women should give up alcohol before they plan to conceive.
女性在計畫懷孕前應該戒酒。
9. adopt v. 採用；收養
Many schools have adopted “digital learning tools” to enhance education.
許多學校已經採用了數位學習工具來提升教育品質。
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