Learn about ways to get rid of moles (nevi), how to reduce scars from mole removal procedures, learn what causes moles, and how to monitor your skin for melanoma. It is estimated that, in 1995, about 50,500 new cases of urinary bladder cancer will be diagnosed and that 11,200 patients will die of the diease. What can you eat on the Dukan Diet? WebMD reviews the pros and cons of this diet. The Dukan Diet: Low-Carb and High Protein Diet with a French Accent This low-carb, high-protein diet that's similar to Atkins isn't likely to bring lasting weight. Find out the many health benefits of Dukan Diet oat bran. Causes, Risks, Diet, and More. Medically Reviewed by Graham Rogers, MD. June 1, 2. 01. 7. Written by Brindles Lee Macon, Winnie Yu, and Rachel Nall What are gallstones? Your gallbladder is a small organ below the liver in the upper right abdomen. It’s a pouch that stores bile, a green- yellow liquid that helps with digestion. Most gallstones form when there’s too much cholesterol in the bile. Pictures Pictures of gallstones. Causes Causes. According to Harvard Health Publications, 8. The other 2. 0 percent of gallstones are made of calcium salts and bilirubin. It’s not known exactly what causes gallstones to form, though there are some theories. Too much cholesterol in your bile. Having too much cholesterol in your bile can lead to yellow cholesterol stones. These hard stones may develop if your liver makes more cholesterol than your bile can dissolve. Too much bilirubin in your bile. Bilirubin is a chemical produced when your liver destroys old red blood cells. Some conditions, such as liver damage and certain blood disorders, cause your liver to produce more bilirubin than it should. Pigment gallstones form when your gallbladder can’t break down the excess bilirubin. These hard stones are often dark brown or black. Concentrated bile due to a full gallbladder. Your gallbladder needs to empty its bile to be healthy and to function properly. If it fails to empty its bile content, the bile becomes overly concentrated, which causes stones to form. Symptoms Symptoms. Gallstones can lead to pain in the upper right abdomen. You may start to have gallbladder pain from time to time when you eat foods that are high in fat, such as fried foods. The pain doesn’t usually last more than a few hours. You may also experience: nauseavomitingdark urineclay- colored stoolsstomach painburpingdiarrheaindigestion. These symptoms are also known as biliary colic. Asymptomatic gallstones. Gallstones themselves don’t cause pain. Rather, pain occurs when the gallstones block the movement of bile from the gallbladder. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, 8. This means they don’t experience pain or have symptoms. In these cases, your doctor may discover the gallstones from X- rays or during abdomen surgery. Complications Complications and long- term risk. Acute cholecystitis. When a gallstone blocks the duct where bile moves from the gallbladder, it can cause inflammation and infection in the gallbladder. This is known as acute cholecystitis. It is a medical emergency. The risk of developing acute cholecystitis from symptomatic gallstones is 1 to 3 percent. Symptoms associated with acute cholecystitis include: intense pain in the upper stomach or mid- right backfeverchills appetite lossnausea and vomiting. See a doctor immediately if these symptoms last more than 1 to 2 hours or if you have a fever. Other complications. Untreated gallstones may cause complications such as: jaundice, a yellowish tint to your skin or eyescholecystitis, a gallbladder infectioncholangitis, a bile duct infectionsepsis, a blood infectionpancreas inflammationgallbladder cancer. Risk factors Risk factors for gallstones. Many risk factors for gallstones are related to diet, while some factors are uncontrollable. Uncontrollable risk factors are things like age, race, gender, and family history, which can’t be changed. While medications can increase your risk of gallstones, don’t stop taking them unless you have discussed it with your doctor and have their approval. Read more: Gallstones during pregnancy »Diagnosis How they’re diagnosed. Your doctor will perform a physical examination that includes checking your eyes and skin for visible changes in color. A yellowish tint may be a sign of jaundice, the result of too much bilirubin in your body. The exam may involve using diagnostic tests that help your doctor see inside your body. These tests include: Ultrasound: An ultrasound produces images of your abdomen. It’s the preferred imaging method to confirm that you have gallstone disease. It can also show abnormalities associated with acute cholecystitis. Abdominal CT scan: This imaging test takes pictures of your liver and abdominal region. Gallbladder radionuclide scan: This important scan takes about one hour to complete. A specialist injects a radioactive substance into your veins. The substance travels through your blood to the liver and gallbladder. On a scan, it can reveal evidence to suggest infection or blockage of the bile ducts from stones. Blood tests: Your doctor may order blood tests that measure the amount of bilirubin in your blood. The tests also help determine how well your liver is functioning. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): ERCP is a procedure that uses a camera and X- rays to look at problems in the bile and pancreatic ducts. It helps your doctor look for gallstones stuck in your bile duct. Finding a doctor for gallstones. If you’re looking for doctors with the most experience treating gallstones, use the doctor search tool below, powered by our partner Amino. You can find the most experienced doctors and filter by your insurance, location, and other preferences. Amino can also help book your appointment for free. Treatment How are gallstones treated? Most of the time, you won’t need treatment for gallstones unless they cause you pain. Sometimes you can pass gallstones without even noticing. If you’re in pain, your doctor will likely recommend surgery. In rare cases, medication may be used. If you’re at high risk for surgery complications, a drainage tube may be placed into the gallbladder through the skin. Your surgery may be postponed until your risk is lowered by treating your other medical conditions. Natural treatment and home remedies. If you have gallstones and no symptoms, you can make certain lifestyle changes. Some nutritional supplements you can take include vitamin C, iron, and lecithin. One review found that vitamin C and lecithin can decrease the risk of gallstones. Talk to your doctor about the appropriate dosage of these supplements. Some people recommenda gallbladder flush, which involves fasting and then taking olive oil and lemon juice to help pass gallstones. There is no evidence that this works, and it may even cause gallstones to become trapped in the bile duct. Surgery. Your doctor may need to perform a laparoscopic gallbladder removal. This is a common surgery that requires general anesthesia. The surgeon will usually make 3 or 4 incisions in your abdomen. They’ll then insert a small, lighted device into one of the incisions and carefully remove your gallbladder. You usually go home on the day of the procedure or the day after if you have no complications. You may experience loose or watery stools after gallbladder removal. Removing a gallbladder involves rerouting the bile from the liver to the small intestine. Bile no longer goes through the gallbladder and it becomes less concentrated. The result is a laxative effect that causes diarrhea. To treat this, eat a diet lower in fats so that you release less bile. Nonsurgical treatments. Medication is not commonly used anymore because laparoscopic and robotic techniques make surgery much less risky than it used to be. However, if you can’t have surgery, you can take ursodiol (Actigall, Urso) to dissolve gallstones caused by cholesterol. You’ll need to take this drug 2 to 4 times per day. Medications may take several years to eliminate the gallstones, and the gallstones may form again if you stop treatment. Shock wave lithotripsy is another option. A lithotripter is a machine that generates shock waves that pass through a person. These shock waves can break gallstones into smaller pieces. Prevention and diet Foods to avoid. To help improve your condition and reduce your risk of gallstones, try these tips: Reduce your intake of fats and choose low- fat foods whenever possible. Avoid high- fat, greasy, and fried foods. Add fiber to your diet to make your bowel movements more solid. Try to add only a serving of fiber at a time to prevent gas that can occur from eating excess fiber. Avoid foods and drinks known to cause diarrhea, including caffeinated drinks, high- fat dairy products, and very sweet foods. Eat several small meals per day. Smaller meals are easier for the body to digest. Drink a sufficient amount of water. This is about 6 to 8 glasses per day. If you plan to lose weight, do it slowly. Aim to lose no more than two pounds per week. Rapid weight loss may increase your risk of gallstones and other health problems. Outlook What can I expect in the long term? If you need surgery to remove your gallbladder or any stones in your gallbladder, the outlook is often positive. In most cases of stone removal, stones don’t return. But if you don’t have surgery, the gallstones can return. This is true even when you’ve taken medication to dissolve the gallstones. You won’t need treatment if your gallstones don’t cause symptoms. Still, you may want to make lifestyle changes to prevent them from getting bigger and causing problems. Keep reading: Weight loss after gallbladder removal ». Hyperparathyroidism Symptoms (Hypercalcemia), Causes & Surgery. Hypercalcemia Symptoms and Signs. Hypercalcemia is a condition in which blood calcium levels are elevated. The main cause of high calcium levels in the blood is. Signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia involve the gastrointestinal tract. Stomach ulcers Abdominal pain Nausea Kidney stones Frequent urination. Confusion Fractures Depression Memory Loss. Hyperparathyroidism definition and facts**Hyperparathyroid facts medically edited by Melissa Conrad St. When symptoms do appear, they are often mild, such as. In primary hyperparathyroidism, the elevated levels of PTH cause elevated levels of blood calcium (hypercalcemia). Increased calcium and phosphorus excretion in the urine may cause kidney stones. The most common cause of primary hyperparathyroidism is a benign tumor called an adenoma on one of the parathyroid glands that secretes too much PTH. In other cases, the excess PTH is produced by two or more enlarged parathyroid glands, a condition called hyperplasia. The diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism relies on blood tests to measure hormone and calcium levels. Surgery is the main treatment for hyperparathyroidism. What is hyperparathyroidism? Primary hyperparathyroidism is a disorder of the parathyroid glands, also called parathyroids. In secondary hyperparathyroidism, a problem such as kidney failure causes the parathyroids to be overactive. This publication focuses on primary hyperparathyroidism. What are the parathyroid glands? The parathyroid glands are four pea- sized glands located on the thyroid gland in the neck. Occasionally, a person is born with one or more of the parathyroid glands embedded in the thyroid, in the thymus, or located elsewhere around this area. In most such cases, however, the glands function normally. Though their names are similar, the thyroid and parathyroid glands are entirely different glands, each producing distinct hormones with specific functions. The parathyroid glands secrete PTH, a substance that helps maintain the correct balance of calcium and phosphorus in the body. PTH regulates the level of calcium in the blood, release of calcium from bone, absorption of calcium in the intestine, and excretion of calcium in the urine. When the level of calcium in the blood falls too low, the parathyroid glands secrete just enough PTH to restore the blood calcium level. What is primary hyperparathyroidism? If the parathyroid glands secrete too much hormone, as happens in primary hyperparathyroidism, the balance is disrupted: Blood calcium rises. This condition of excessive calcium in the blood, called hypercalcemia, is what usually signals the doctor that something may be wrong with the parathyroid glands. In 8. 5 percent of people with primary hyperparathyroidism, a benign tumor called an adenoma has formed on one of the parathyroid glands, causing it to become overactive. Benign tumors are noncancerous. In most other cases, the excess hormone comes from two or more enlarged parathyroid glands, a condition called hyperplasia. Very rarely, hyperparathyroidism is caused by cancer of a parathyroid gland. This excess PTH triggers the release of too much calcium into the bloodstream. The bones may lose calcium, and too much calcium may be absorbed from food. The levels of calcium may increase in the urine, causing kidney stones. PTH also lowers blood phosphorus levels by increasing excretion of phosphorus in the urine. How common is hyperparathyroidism? In the United States, about 1. Women outnumber men two to one, and risk increases with age. In women 6. 0 years and older, two out of 1,0. Why are calcium and phosphorous so important? Calcium is essential for good health. It plays an important role in bone and tooth development and in maintaining bone strength. Calcium is also important in nerve transmission and muscle contraction. Phosphorus is found in all bodily tissue. It is a main part of every cell with many roles in each. Combined with calcium, phosphorus gives strength and rigidity to your bones and teeth. What causes hyperparathyroidism? In most cases doctors don't know the cause. The vast majority of cases occur in people with no family history of the disorder. Only about 5 percent of cases can be linked to an inherited problem. Familial multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 is a rare, inherited syndrome that affects the parathyroids as well as the pancreas and the pituitary gland. Another rare genetic disorder, familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia, is sometimes confused with typical hyperparathyroidism. Each accounts for about 2 percent of primary hyperparathyroidism cases. Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 1/4/2.
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