Gallstones are hardened deposits that can form in the gallbladder, a small organ near the liver that stores and releases bile. Gallstones range in size and some people develop one while others develop many. Symptoms usually require gallbladder removal surgery. Gallstones may form when bile contains too much cholesterol or bilirubin or the gallbladder does not empty correctly. Complications can include gallbladder inflammation, blockages of ducts, or rarely gallbladder cancer.
Gallstones are hardened deposits that can form in the gallbladder, a small organ near the liver that stores and releases bile. Gallstones range in size and some people develop one while others develop many. Symptoms usually require gallbladder removal surgery. Gallstones may form when bile contains too much cholesterol or bilirubin or the gallbladder does not empty correctly. Complications can include gallbladder inflammation, blockages of ducts, or rarely gallbladder cancer.
Gallstones are hardened deposits that can form in the gallbladder, a small organ near the liver that stores and releases bile. Gallstones range in size and some people develop one while others develop many. Symptoms usually require gallbladder removal surgery. Gallstones may form when bile contains too much cholesterol or bilirubin or the gallbladder does not empty correctly. Complications can include gallbladder inflammation, blockages of ducts, or rarely gallbladder cancer.
Gallstones are hardened deposits that can form in the gallbladder, a small organ near the liver that stores and releases bile. Gallstones range in size and some people develop one while others develop many. Symptoms usually require gallbladder removal surgery. Gallstones may form when bile contains too much cholesterol or bilirubin or the gallbladder does not empty correctly. Complications can include gallbladder inflammation, blockages of ducts, or rarely gallbladder cancer.
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1/ 2
Session 4
GALLSTONES
Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder. Your gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of your abdomen, just beneath your liver. The gallbladder holds a digestive fluid called bile that's released into your small intestine.
Gallstones range in size from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball. Some people develop just one gallstone, while others develop many gallstones at the same time.
People who experience symptoms from their gallstones usually require gallbladder removal surgery. Gallstones that don't cause any signs and symptoms typically don't need treatment. If a gallstone lodges in a duct and causes a blockage, signs and symptoms may result, such as:
Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen. Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the center of your abdomen, just below your breastbone. Back pain between your shoulder blades. Pain in your right shoulder. Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes.
It's not clear what causes gallstones to form. Doctors think gallstones may result when:
Your bile contains too much cholesterol. Normally, your bile contains enough chemicals to dissolve the cholesterol excreted by your liver. But if your liver excretes more cholesterol than your bile can dissolve, the excess cholesterol may form into crystals and eventually into stones. Your bile contains too much bilirubin. Bilirubin is a chemical that's produced when your body breaks down red blood cells. Certain conditions cause your liver to make too much bilirubin, including liver cirrhosis, biliary tract infections and certain blood disorders. The excess bilirubin contributes to gallstone formation. Your gallbladder doesn't empty correctly. If your gallbladder doesn't empty completely or often enough, bile may become very concentrated and this contributes to the formation of gallstones.
Types of gallstones that can form in the gallbladder include:
Cholesterol gallstones. They are the most common type of gallstones which often appear yellow in color. These gallstones are composed mainly of undissolved cholesterol, but may contain other components. Pigment gallstones. These dark brown or black stones form when your bile contains too much bilirubin.
Complications of gallstones may include:
Inflammation of the gallbladder. A gallstone that becomes lodged in the neck of the gallbladder can cause inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis). Cholecystitis can cause severe pain and fever. Blockage of the common bile duct. Gallstones can block the tubes (ducts) through which bile flows from your gallbladder or liver to your small intestine. Jaundice and bile duct infection can result. Blockage of the pancreatic duct. The pancreatic duct is a tube that runs from the pancreas to the common bile duct. Pancreatic juices, which aid in digestion, flow through the pancreatic duct. A gallstone can cause a blockage in the pancreatic duct, which can lead to inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Pancreatitis causes intense, constant abdominal pain and usually requires hospitalization. Gallbladder cancer. People with a history of gallstones have an increased risk of gallbladder cancer. But gallbladder cancer is very rare, so even though the risk of cancer is elevated, the likelihood of gallbladder cancer is still very small.
Fatty Liver Diet Cookbook: Triumph Over FLD and Hepatic Steatosis with Scrumptious Low-Fat Recipes, Harness Your Metabolism, and Embrace a Swell-Free Life Naturally [II EDITION]
