Gallstones

1179 Words3 Pages

What are gallstones? Gallstones usually form in the gallbladder when liquid stored hardens into pieces of stone like material. Also, gallstones can form anywhere in the intrahepatic, hepatic, common bile, or cystic ducts. The liquid, called bile is used to help the body digest fats. Bile is made in the liver, and then stored in the gallbladder until the body needs to digest fat. At that time, the gallbladder contracts and pushes the bile into a duct which carries it to the small intestine, where it helps with assimilation. Gallstones are yellow liquid made of fats and cholesterol that convert to stones when collect it in the gallbladder. Gallstones are hard, pebble-like deposits that form inside the gallbladder. Gallstones range in size from very small to as large as a golf ball. Also, gallstones can move from the gallbladder into the common duct or the cystic. However, knowledge about gallstones, and Occurrence, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Complications of Gallstones are very beneficial because you will be able to avoid it in the future.

Gallstones are more common in women. They are also more common in overweight people, and people with a family history of gallstones. According to (Harvard Women's Health Watch 18.7 (2011): 6-7.) said "more than 25 million people in the United States have gallstones, and 65% to 75% of them are women”. Gallstones occur in the gallbladder when the bile is trapped in it and causes to create irritation and pressure. In the Bile duct the Gallstone may be made-up of bile pigments and cholesterol salts. The cholesterol Gallstone is the most common type which is formed when the amount of the cholesterol in the bile. The estrogen boosts the concentration of cholesterol more in the wo...

... middle of paper ...

... and the inflammation of the pancreas.

Works Cited

A.D.A.M. National Center for Biotechnology Information. 11 August 2011. 11 November 2011 .

Marks, Jay W. MedicineNet. 29 June 2011. 11 November 2011 .

NDDIC. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. 11 July 2007. 11 November 2011 .

—. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. 11 January 1999. 11 November 2011 .

Robb-Nicholson. Harvard Women’s Health Watch. 11 March 2011. 11 November 2011 .

More about Gallstones

Open Document