The Taiwan Rheumatology Association called on the public to take proper medication if they suffer from gout. That came during a press conference on Thursday.
Gout is an arthritic disease of the joints caused by excessive uric acid -- a waste product produced by the body. Symptoms of gout include inflammation and joint pain. In more serious cases, an excess of uric acid can form crystals in the body, which result in severe joint pain and disfigurement.
Medical experts dispelled the popular belief that gout can be treated with a proper diet. They said that taking medication is the only proven method of reducing uric acid levels, and removing symptoms of gout completely.