GallStones - Getting to Know the Problem and Solutions

To understand bile and the gallbladder: the liver creates bile, which then moves down channels of tiny tubes known as bile ducts into the gall bladder. These tiny tubes combine to create the primary bile duct. Bile travels down these bile ducts constantly into the first part of the duodenum.

The gallbladder sack is directly underneath the liver and receives bile from the primary bile duct through the cystic duct. The cystic duct is filled with bile and acts as a reservoir for bile. When we eat, the gallbladder contracts and squeezes to pump bile into the small intestine, where it helps digest fats.

Gallstones are described as solidified bile in the gall bladder. Bile is normally fluid, but when gallstones form, the bile solidifies into stones. There are several kinds of gallstones, some people get many small stones, while others get one large stone, and some get both. Usually gall stones contain bad cholesterol that has hardened and can be formed by calcium deposits or bile pigments.

Are gall stones common? One epidemiology study indicated that gall stones are very common, and can be asymptomatic or symptomatic. One of three women and one of seven men are typically get gall stones sometime. Some risk factors for gall stones formation include pregnancy, old age, obesity and some drugs.

If are a vegetarian or you consume alcohol moderately, the chance of you developing gall stones may be less. Some rarer gall stones causes are a special anemia type known as hemolytic anemia, and a few infections that are blood-borne.

What are the symptoms of gall stones? Normally, there are none. Most people can form gall stones in their gallbladder without even knowing they are there. Usually, gallstones just exist in the gallbladder without displaying any symptoms at all. Often, gall stones are picked up by x-rays or abdomen scan in regular checkups.

Diet can keep gall stones from forming:
Lecithin helps homogenize the bad cholesterol, especially in the gall bladder, so lecithin supplements, along with Vitamin E are often advised. Eggs used to be recommended against, because they contain cholesterol, but newer studies are showing that their high levels of lecithin more than offset the cholesterol content.

Your doctor can test you and advise if you have any risk of gallstones, so he is your best place to start. Lecithin helps homogenize the cholesterol in the bile, to prevent gall stone formation, so it, along with vitamin E, and a diet with fewer animal products, like meat and milk, and more raw fruits, salads, and other vegetables can directly reduce the risks of bad cholesterol and gall stones

If you are diagnosed with gallstones, your physician will advise you of the alternative treatments for gallstones. You will have to decide which treatment is best for you. Hopefully, you will have time to consider some of the natural treatments, and won't require surgery because of complications that can't wait.

You may also like to read more about controlling cholesterol, which is part of the gall stone problem, at Cholesterol Healing .com.

This article was written by Jim Krage of Healing Energy News .com.