GallstonesMedical Author:
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEPDr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident. Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Gallbladder DietExperts discuss foods that are good for your gallbladder, as well as what not to eat when you have gallbladder problems. By Stephanie Watson
Most people never give a thought to the health of their gallbladder. The pear-shaped organ does have an important job, collecting and storing bile -- the fluid that helps the body digest fats. But unlike the heart, liver, and kidneys, the gallbladder isn't necessary to keep the body healthy and functioning. Even when it isn't working as well as it should and gallstones develop, most people are unaware that there is a problem. Yet in a small percentage of people, gallstones can trigger a variety of symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. When gallstone symptoms are frequent, recurrent, and especially uncomfortable, the typical treatment is surgery to remove the gallbladder. "The majority of people with gallstones never develop symptoms their whole lives," says John Martin, MD, associate professor of medicine and surgery, and director of endoscopy at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "Once you start to develop symptoms, you're going to need to have the gallbladder taken out." Although diet doesn't directly cause gallbladder problems -- and it won't cure them -- watching what you eat and keeping a healthy weight might help you prevent gallstones from forming and avoid some discomfort if you do develop gallstones. SOURCE: Gallstones OverviewGallstones (commonly misspelled gall stones or gall stone) are solid particles that form from bile in the gallbladder.
Bile is a fluid made by the liver to help in the digestion of fats.
There are two types of gallstones: 1) cholesterol stones and 2) pigment stones.
Gallstones can be any size, from tiny as a grain of sand to large as a golf ball.
Gallstones within the gallbladder often cause no problems. If there are many or they are large, they may cause pain when the gallbladder responds to a fatty meal. They also may cause problems if they move out of the gallbladder.
Up to 20% of adults in the United States may have gallstones, yet only 1% to 3% develop symptoms.
Gallstones CausesGallstones occur when bile forms solid particles (stones) in the gallbladder.
Risk factors for the formation of cholesterol gallstones include the following:
Gallstones are the most common cause of gallbladder disease.
When the gallbladder or gallbladder ducts become inflamed or infected as the result of stones, the pancreas frequently becomes inflamed too.
Viewer Comments & ReviewsGallstones - CausesThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What was the cause of your gallstones? Gallstones - Symptoms ExperiencedThe eMedicineHealth physician editors asked:For gallstones, what were the symptoms and signs you experienced? |
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Gallstones
Topic Overview
What are the gallbladder and gallstones?
The gallbladder is a small sac found just under the liver. It stores bile made by the liver. Bile helps you digest fats. Bile moves from the gallbladder to the small intestine through tubes called the cystic duct and common bile duct.
Gallstones are made from cholesterol and other things found in the bile. They can be smaller than a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.
Most gallstones do not cause problems. But if they block a duct, they usually need treatment.
What causes gallstones?
Gallstones form when cholesterol and other things found in bile make stones. They can also form if the gallbladder does not empty as it should. People who are overweight or who are trying to lose weight quickly are more likely to get gallstones.
What are the symptoms?
Most people who have gallstones do not have symptoms.
If you have symptoms, you most likely will hav...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape
Cholelithiasis »
Gallstones are concretions that form in the biliary tract, usually in the gallbladder.
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