Gallbladder Disease and its Relationship to Obesity and Weight Loss

Abstract

The paper attempts to discuss about the gallbladder diseases in relation to obesity and weight loss. It highlights various aspects of the study and discusses the topic in a holistic context. The paper starts with a brief description about gallbladder and explains the epidemiology of the study. It further extends to highlight the risk factors associated with gallbladder diseases including age, sex, pregnancy, genetics, obesity and rapid weight loss. The paper also mentions the protective factors and measures that can be used to prevent the gallbladder diseases. The clinical features are discussed and emphasis is laid on the signs and symptoms of gallbladder diseases. The paper then mentions the diagnostics of the disease and explains the various methods of treating gallbladder diseases including surgical treatment, medications, nutritional treatment, herbal treatment, exercising and changes in lifestyle and diet. The issues of gallbladder diseases during pregnancy are also measured with emphasis on the reasons and impacts of the disease during, before and after pregnancy.

Table of Contents

Introduction5

Discussion5

Gallbladder5

Epidemiology6

Risk Factors7

Age.7

Sex.7

Pregnancy.7

Genetics.8

Obesity.8

Rapid Weight Loss.8

Protective Factors9

Clinical Features10

Signs and Symptoms10

Diagnostics.11

Treatment11

Surgical Treatment.12

Medication.12

Gallstone-dissolving formula.12

Terpenes.13

Nutritional Treatment.13

Herbal Treatment.13

Silybum marianum (milk thistle).14

Taraxacum officinale (dandelion).14

Cynara scolymus (artichoke).14

Curcuma longa (turmeric).14

Peumus boldo (boldo).14

Lifestyle and Diet.15

Exercise.15

Gallstones during Pregnancy16

Conclusion17

References18

Gallbladder Disease and its Relationship to Obesity and Weight Loss

Introduction

Gallstone disease is one of the most common and costly of all digestive diseases. It is reported that approximately 14.2 million women aged between 20 and 74 in the United States of America have gallbladder diseases. In developed countries, the majority of gallstones consist primarily of cholesterol, a fatty substance that is processed in the liver and stored in the gallbladder as one of the constituents of bile. Gallstones can develop if the normal “mix” of bile is altered and the cholesterol content is high. They are far more common in women and are unusual before the age of 30. The main symptom is pain, which varies in intensity and often develops after a fatty meal, when bile is released from the gallbladder to help digestion.

Discussion

Gallbladder

The gallbladder is a small, hollow and a pear shaped sac located just below the liver. Its function is to store concentrated bile, a substance that helps digest fats that enter our digestive system, which is produced by liver. When there is food in the small intestine (which is located in the upper abdomen) gallbladder receives a signal to begin to contract and empty the bile into the intestine. The gallbladder is a very delicate organ, this is known about potential problems that can generate, as the calculations called bile salts that are stones blocking the bile duct and generate inflammatory diseases, which are usually treated with medication, and in extreme cases should go to surgical procedures. Bile is mainly composed of water, salts and cholesterol. There are mainly two major types of diseases of gallbladder including Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) and Cholelithiasis (gallstones).

Cholecystitis: is the infection of the gallbladder. It occurs when the obstruction of the gallbladder is prolonged. It results in more pain with ...