Sunny. High 66F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph..
Clear skies. Low 34F. Winds light and variable.
Sunny. High 66F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Clear skies. Low 34F. Winds light and variable.
A mainly sunny sky. High 69F. Winds light and variable.
Sunny. High 66F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Clear skies. Low 34F. Winds light and variable.
A mainly sunny sky. High 69F. Winds light and variable.
Gallbladder disease is a growing concern that costs billions of dollars and causes a great deal of distress for patients. Gallbladder removal is one of the more common surgical procedures in the modern Western world.
In the United States, approximately 15% of the population has gallstones. These stones often cause problems severe enough to require hospitalization and possibly surgery.
Why is the gallbladder so prone to problems? Is surgery the best or only answer to gallbladder problems? This column provides answers to these questions and more.
The gallbladder is a small pouch-like structure tucked beneath the front edge of the liver. It is located under the lower right side of the rib cage. Under normal conditions you will not feel or otherwise be aware of your gallbladder.
Your liver produces many important chemicals that are essential to human function. A substance called bile is secreted by the liver and accumulates in the gallbladder. When you eat certain foods, commonly foods that contain fat, the gallbladder squirts a glob of bile into the small intestine.
This is important, for without that squirt of bile, fats in the diet would not be absorbed well. Although many people think of fat as something to be avoided, in truth your body needs a certain amount of healthy fat to carry out many critical life processes.
Under normal circumstances, the liver and gallbladder go about their business day-by-day and we have no reason to give them a passing thought. The most common exception to this occurs when the bile duct becomes blocked. Frequently this occurs when a gallstone blocks the flow of bile through the duct.
Gallstones form when the ingredients of the bile fluid accumulate into a mass. The so-called stones aren’t necessarily stone-like. Many gallstones are waxy and semi-solid. Around 80% of examined gallstones consist of primarily cholesterol. Only a small percentage contains calcium which creates a hardened stone. Either kind of stone can create a blockage and cause illness.
Interestingly, the actual composition of gallstones varies from one world region to another and has changed over time. This is partially due to varying diet and societal behaviors. For example, 50 years ago the role of infection played a greater role in the production of gallstones, whereas today our diet is the primary factor.
Our diet can be primarily responsible for gallbladder issues, including formation of stones. Diets containing large amounts of sugars, animal fats, overly processed ingredients and fast food are all linked to a greater risk of gallbladder disease. Gallbladder disease risks increase with advancing age and are somewhat greater for females.
Of concern to some people that want to lose weight, developing gallstones is a common risk of rapid weight loss involving significant calorie restriction. It is also a known risk for people that undergo weight loss surgery. Fluctuating weight is associated with gall bladder disease.
Gallbladder symptoms tend to come and go for a while before becoming extremely severe. Patients might feel overly full, have belching issues, nausea, bowel function issues, or intermittent right-sided abdominal pain with early onset of gallbladder problems. In some cases, there might be dull, achy referred pain in the right shoulder area. (Similar to heart problems causing referred pain in the left shoulder area.)
Interestingly, gallstones are more likely to be a problem statistically during summer months and less likely during the winter.
These symptoms might continue on and off for months or years without a severe gallbladder attack. A gallbladder attack occurs when the bile duct is blocked, inflammation develops and digestive symptoms worsen.
Imaging tests such as ultrasound, MRI or CT may be used to evaluate the gallbladder to determine if stones are present.
For patients with recurring gallbladder problems or a severe acute attack, surgical removal of the gallbladder is often recommended. This surgery is frequently done through laparoscopic procedures and is typically well tolerated.
While gallbladder removal often resolves the complaints, in some cases patients will continue to have symptoms. There are a number of possible reasons for this and patients having ongoing symptoms should continue to seek answers.
Not everyone that has gallbladder issues will require surgery. There are some drugs that may occasionally be used to eliminate the stones. However, the drugs work slowly and recurrence of stones is possible. In some cases, dietary changes may help.
If you have pain in the abdomen, it is very important that you see a doctor. There are a number of conditions, some very serious or potentially fatal, that can cause abdominal pain. Once a definitive diagnosis is made, you may have several choices in treatment.
Dr. Mark Kestner is a licensed chiropractic physician and acupuncturist with 30-plus years of experience focused primarily on treating complex and chronic spine, joint and neurological conditions in Murfreesboro. His office is at 1435 NW Broad St. Contact him at mkestner@DrKestner.com.
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