Cases of gout have soared in the UK.
Henry VIII suffered from gout
The painful type of arthritis is known as "the disease of Kings" as it was believed to be caused by gorging rich foods and drinking alcohol, with monarchs including Henry VIII and Queen Victoria suffering from the condition.
The increased availability of high-fat, sugar and salty foods has caused an increase across the general population in more recent times with the trend alarming medics.
Freedom of information (FOI) requests have found that the number of gout cases at Liverpool University Hospitals increased by over 960 per cent between 2019 and 2023.
Navin Khosala, a pharmacist at the online pharmacy NowPatient, said that the impact of gout should not be taken lightly.
He said: "The main symptoms of gout are sudden and severe bouts of pain, which will usually start in the big toe but it can also present itself in the feet, wrists, ankles and other joints of the body.
"Another indication of gout is when the skin over the area of pain turns swollen or red, so if you do experience any of these symptoms, you can take ibuprofen to help ease the pain."
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