Studies have shown that women between 20 and 60 years old are twice as likely to develop gallstones as men. Pregnant women, and women who are on birth control pills or estrogen replacement therapy are also more prone to having gallstones. It has also been discovered that crash dieting or losing a lot of weight quickly can put you at a higher risk for gallstones.
Here's some info from the US National Institute of health about how gallstones are formed. The gallbladder, a pearshaped organ at the bottom of the liver, stores and releases bile into the intestines to help digestion. Bile is a liquid made by the liver. It contains water, cholesterol, bile salts, fats, proteins and bilirubin, a bile pigment. During digestion, the gallbladder contracts to release bile into the intestine where the bile salts help to break down fats. Bile also dissolves excess cholesterol.
According to health researchers, gallstones are formed in three ways : When bile contains more cholesterol than it can dissolve, when there is too much substances like proteins in the bile that causes the cholesterol to form hard crystals, or when the gallbladder doesn't contract and empty it's bile regularly. Most gallstones are there, remaining silent, and are not causing you any pain. However, when stones travel into the cystic duct that connects the gallbladder to the small intestine, and get struct and block the flow of bile, these can cause cholecystitis, or an inflammation of the gallbladder. It can also get struct in the bile ducts between the liver and the intestine and cause pain and jaundice. Pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas can occur if the stones obstruct the flow of digestive juices secreted by the pancreas into the small intestine.
Prolonged blockage in any of these ducts can cause damage to the gallbladder, liver or pancreas, which can be dangerous. So it's important to watch out for warning signs of gallstone problems : Severe pain in the upper abdomen that starts suddenly and lasts from 30 minutes to many hours, pain under the right shoulder or in the right shoulder blade, nausea or vomiting, indigestion after eating high-fat foods, such as fried or desserts.
Why then can crush dieting cause gallstones? Experts believe that dieting may cause a shift in the balance of bile salts and cholesterol in the gallbladder. The cholesterol level is increased and the amount of bile salts is decreased. Following a diet that is too low in fat or going for long periods without eating like fasting or not eating breakfast may decrease gallbladder contractions. If the gallbladder doesn't contract often enough to empty out the bile, gallstones may form.
Published by Teresita C. Tayanes on March 19, 2007 11:37 PM
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