The Causes of Gallbladder Attacks

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The Causes of Gallbladder Attacks

Outline

I. Introduction: It is estimated that approxiamately 10 to 20 percent of the population in the United States and Western Europe are currently being affected by Gallbladder attacks.

Thesis statement: These attacks are mainly caused by the development of gallstones in the gallbladder. II. Definition.

A. Gallbladder

B. Gallstones

III. Causes.

A. Obesity

B. Estrogen

C. Ethnicity

D. Age and gender

IV. Symptoms.

A. Chronic indigestion

B. Sudden, steady and moderate-to- intense pain in your upper abdomen

C. Nausea and vomiting

V. Diagnosis.

A. Ultrasound

B. Cholecystogram

Conclusion

It might sound interesting to explore the reason why so many people are currently being affected by these attacks. According to statistics, 1 out of 8 men and 1 out of 4 women will have gallstones or gallbladder problems before they reach the age of 60.

What then is the Gallbladder?

The gallbladder according to Dorland’s Medical Dictionary is ‘the pear shaped reservoir for the bile on the posteroinferior surface of the liver, between the right and the left quadrate lobe, from its neck the cystic duct projects to join the common bile duct’. The function of the gallbladder in the human body is to solve and concentrate bile, which is produced by the liver and is necessary for proper digestion of fats.

What are Gallstones?

Gallstones form when the liquid stored in the gallbladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. 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 tube—called the common bile duct—that carries it to the small intestine, where it help with digestion.

Bile contains water, cholesterol, fats, bile salts, proteins, and bilirubin. Bile salts breaks up fats, and bilirubin gives bile and stool a yellowish color. If the liquid bile contains too much cholesterol, bile salts, or bilirubin, under certain conditions it can harden into stones. They may occur as a simple, large stone or many small ones. Gallstones are mixtures of compound, but are mostly cholesterol.

According to studies many people have gallstones and never know it. Matter of fact, gallstones often cause no symptoms ...

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...h a type of surgery called Cholecystectomy. The Non-Surgical approaches are used only in specific situations such as when a patient’s condition prevents using an anesthetic. In such cases, Oral dissolution therapy is used.

In conclusion, 1 out of 10 people are at risk for gallbladder attacks. Gallstones are the main reason for these attacks. If you’re older, a female or overweight and have a sedentary lifestyle, a diet high in fat and sugar, you pose to be a potential candidate for these painful attacks.

Bibliography

Dorland’s Medical Dictionary

http://www.lap-associates.com/SurgicalServices/biliary.html

http://www.marysherbs.com/heal-gal.html

Mayo Clinic Health Information. “What are Gallstones?” 11 Nov 2000< http://aolsvc.illness.aol.com/DS000165/main.html>

http://www.med.upenn.edu/~surgery/clin/gallblad.html

http://wwwmedocs.ucdavis.edu/IMD/420B/esylabus/biliary.html

http://www.moreton.com.au/ana/handbook/gall.html

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. “Gallstones.”< http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/galstn/gallstns.html>

http://www.wellweb.com/nutri/dieting_and_gallstones.html

http:// www.yourhealth.com/ahl/1608.html

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