subject: Gallstones Treatment [print this page] Gallstones Treatment
Gallstones account for a significant part of healthcare spending in the western world, as the most common abdominal reason for admission to hospitals. Approximately 5 million people have them in UK.
They are solid stones in the gall bladder formed in the gall bladder from bile salt, calcium and cholesterol. They are formed when bile contains too much cholesterol. The excess cholesterol forms crystals from which they are made. Size can be as small as a sand grain or as large as a golf ball. Gallbladder may develop a single, large stone or many smaller ones. The mere presence of a gallstone may cause more to develop.
People with gallstones usually don't have any symptoms. They do not need treatment as they don't interfere with liver, pancreas or gall bladder. However when they move into the bile ducts and create blockage- also called gallbladder attack, symptoms start to occur: pain in the right upper abdomen that lasts from half an hour to a few hours, or pain between the shoulder blades in the back.
If you experience nausea, vomiting, clay colored stools, pain that lasts more than 5 hours, fever, chills or sweating, yellow color of skin or whites of the eyes, contact your doctor immediately.
Who is at risk?
People over the age of 40. They are rarely seen in young people, the risk increases with age. People who fast or have lost a lot of weight quickly. Obese or overweight men and women. People with a high blood cholesterol level. People with diabetes, due to having higher levels of fatty acids- triglycerides. People with a family history of gall stones. People with diets high in fat and cholesterol and low in fiber. Women that take contraceptive pills. Mexican Americans and American Indians.
Tips on Managing Gallstone Disease:
High-intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates have been associated with an increased risk. Choose complex carbs and try to eat less of sweets and desserts.
Add fiber to your diet: whole grains, flaxseeds, oatmeal, fruits and vegetables.
Eat less of foods that are high in saturated or trans fats and more of monounsaturated fats- olive and canola oil and omega 3 fatty acid.
Exercise regularly.
Avoid fad diets that may make you lose weight fast. Lose weight slowly if overweight, by eating healthy. Weight fluctuation is not great for preventing them.
Keep eating nuts even though they are high in fat. They reduce the gallstone risk in men and women.
Choose low glycemic index foods that will not cause a spike in your blood glucose levels and that will help you lose and maintain weight. Several studies suggest that the intake of high glycemic index / load foods increase the risk of developing gallstones, by boosting the body's insulin production and increasing the cholesterol content.
http://www.glycemic-index.org/gallstones.html
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