Final answer:
The importance of maintaining a diet high in purine-rich foods should be included in patient teaching about gout. Option A is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
When teaching a patient about gout management, it's essential to cover dietary choices, hydration, and medication adherence.
Patients should be advised on the importance of avoiding purine-rich foods such as high-fructose products, which can increase the risk of gout. Foods that contain purine-like compounds, like tea, coffee, and chocolate, should also be limited due to their potential to elevate uric acid levels.
Hydration is crucial for individuals with gout; they should aim to drink enough water to produce 2 to 2.5 liters of urine per day. This helps reduce the excretory load on the kidneys and facilitates the excretion of uric acid.
In addition to lifestyle modifications, uricosuric drugs, like allopurinol, may be prescribed to inhibit xanthine oxidase, which helps lower blood levels of uric acid and prevent crystal deposit formation in the joints.
It is recommended that patients do not skip these medications and follow their prescribed management plan closely.
Hence, option A is correct.