DR FLO: Does meat and alcohol make arthritis worse?

Dr Flo, my feet usually ache and swell. I was told by my doctor that I have arthritis. He also he told me to stop drinking alcohol and eating red meat. Is it true that eating red meat and drinking alcohol worsen arthritis? And can my illness be treated? If so, where specifically? Lordkenna

Dear Lordkenna,

Arthritis means inflammation at a joint. It can affect one or more joints in the body, including the upper or lower limbs and even the bones of the spine. Arthritis can result in pain, swelling, stiffness and/or warmth at the joint.

It may be caused by wear and tear of a joint, infection, injury, gout or an auto-immune illness (where the immune system attacks some parts of the body, in this case, the joint).

You are more likely to suffer from arthritis if some close family members also have arthritis, or if you are older, or if you have had injury to that joint, or if you are overweight.

If the doctor was concerned about your consumption of red meat and alcohol, it may be that gout is a likely cause of the arthritis, and those two can trigger gout attacks.

Gout is caused by accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. Most of the time, the joints affected are in the feet, especially at the base of the big toe.

Arthritis symptoms are recurrent and never fully go away. Treatment is aimed at reducing the symptoms and reducing further damage to the joint.

Treatment also depends on the cause of the arthritis. There is medication to relieve pain and inflammation. Physiotherapy also helps with the symptoms. If there is gout, medicine to reduce uric acid levels is also prescribed.

Other measures that can help include maintaining a healthy weight, proper diet, reducing alcohol consumption (especially beer), reducing consumption of meat and seafood, taking a lot of water, exercise, and use of hot or cold packs.

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What is brucella and how does it affect a person? What are the signs and symptoms of the disease? Gladys

Dear Gladys,

Brucella refers to several types of bacteria that infect animals (sheep, goats, cattle, camels, dogs). Some can spread to humans through eating raw meat or drinking unpasteurised milk, or from contact with an open wound or through inhalation (breathing).

It’s more common in people who handle animals and those who handle raw meat. Humans can spread it, though rarely, through breastfeeding, sexual contact and transfusions.

Symptoms are similar to symptoms of other illnesses like the flu, e.g. feeling tired, headache, joint aches, a fever that comes and goes, chills, abdominal pain, lack of appetite, or weight loss.

You can get the symptoms weeks or even months after being exposed to the bacteria. Rarely, in severe cases, the joints, the spleen and liver, the testicles, the heart or the brain may be affected.

Blood can be tested for antibodies, or cultures can be done from body fluids or bone marrow. It is treated with antibiotics (rifampicin and doxycycline) for six to eight weeks.

To prevent it, don’t consume unpasteurised milk or milk products, or raw/undercooked meat; use protective equipment when handling animals, animal tissue or when helping animals give birth; cover any open wounds when handling animal blood and consider giving the brucella vaccine to domestic animals.

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Dr Flo, I have pain on my waist and a lump on the left testicle. I went to hospital for an ultrasound scan and the report showed I have micro-calcification or testicular microlithiasis.

I get tired easily. Could you please tell me the cause of these diseases and the medical attention I should seek since I have only been given painkillers? Mwiti

Dear Mwiti,

Testicular microlithiasis means there are tiny calcium stones spread within the testicles. There is no known cause for their development. It is found in about 0.6 to five per cent of men. Most of the time it is found as another problem is being investigated.

In many people, it has no symptoms and causes no problems. In some people, there is pain because of distension of the tubes in the testicles. In some people, it is associated with undescended testes, infertility, some genetic disorders, cysts, hydrocele, varicocele and some cancers.

There is no known cure, but it would be advisable to visit a urologist so that the ultrasound findings are evaluated. You’ll also be screened for other associated conditions.

If there are no other issues, examine yourself routinely and go to hospital in case you notice any new lumps or other changes.

Send your medical questions to[email protected] for absolutely free expert advice.