My City Wellness Winter 2022

Symptoms and Complications

e gallbladder functions as a holding area and release point for bile produced by the liver to help digest ingested fats. Medical professionals have not yet been able to pinpoint an exact cause of gallstones, but do think they are the result of too much cholesterol and/or bilirubin. (Bilirubin is the chemical produced when red blood cells are broken down.) ere are two types of gallstones: cholesterol and pigment. Cholesterol gallstones (the most common type) are made up of hardened, undissolved cho- lesterol. Normally, bile contains enough chemicals to dissolve excess cholesterol secreted by the liver; but if the bile can’t dissolve it, le over cholesterol can form into crystals and then, stones. Pigment gallstones are composed of excess bilirubin. Certain conditions including liver cirrhosis, infections and blood disorders can cause an excess of bilirubin. ey can also form when the gallbladder does not emp- ty fully or o en enough, causing bile to become concentrated and eventual- ly harden into stones. Risk factors for gallstone formation are numerous and diverse, involving both behav- ioral and genetic factors. e most common are: 1. Being female 2. Being age 40 or over 3. Being overweight or obese 4. Being sedentary 5. Eating a high-fat, high-cho- lesterol, low- ber diet 6. A family history of gallstones 7. Having diabetes

for survival or proper digestive function. A er removal, bile ows directly from the liver to the small intestine without being stored. Directly a er surgery, one can experience a small bout of diarrhea and will have to avoid eating fatty foods for a short time. ere are medications that eliminate gallstones but can take months to years to be e ective, and gallstones are a recurring

Symptoms of gallstones occur when the stone lodges in a duct causing a blockage. Bile ows from the liver to the gallbladder and then through the biliary tract to other parts of the diges- tive system, most notably the duodenum, the rst part of the small intestine. A blockage in the neck of the gallbladder will cause

While gallstones can be a very painful and expensive nuisance in your life, they can be avoided by maintaining a healthy weight with exercise and a smart diet.

phenomenon for those a icted. Surgery is o en done laparo- scopically on an outpatient basis. Prevention While gallstones can be a very painful and expensive nui- sance in your life, they can be avoided by making one simple life change: maintain a healthy weight with exercise and a smart diet. Avoid high-choles- terol and high-fat foods while consuming more fruits, veg- etables and grains. If you are obese, avoid “crash” diets and instead lose weight at a more uniform pace. (Rapid weight loss can cause gallstones to form.) Be as active as possible – and avoid the surgical knife. ® REFERENCES Cleveland Clinic. (2021). Gallblad- der. Clevelandclinic.org. Retrieved from my.clevelandclinic.org/health/ body/21690-gallbladder Mayo Clinic. (2021) Gallstones. May- oclinic.org. Retrieved from mayoclinic. org/diseases-conditions/gallstones/ symptoms-causes/syc-20354214

in ammation known as chole- cystitis, in turn causing pain and fever. A blockage of the common bile duct causes jaundice, pain and infection. Stones can also block the pancreatic duct causing acute pancreatitis accompanied by constant abdominal pain and requiring hospitalization. Symptoms of a problematic gallstone include intensifying pain in the upper right or center of the abdomen, pain in the right shoulder or between the shoulder blades, nausea and vomiting. Visit your doctor if you are experiencing jaundice of skin or eyes, intense pain causing the inability to nd a comfortable position, and/or high fever with chills. Treatment e most common and successful treatment for gall- stones is surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). e gallbladder is not necessary

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