1. Learning about Gallstones!
Research done by: Vicky & Melissa

2. Gallbladder
The Gallbladder is located under the liver and is on the right side of the abdomen.
The Gallbladder is there to store and concentrate bile, a digestive enzyme produced by the liver, the bile is absorbed in the lining.
When we eat, food makes its way to the small intestines, then a hormone called cholecystokinin is released, that signals the Gallbladder to send bile into the small intestines through the common bile duct. Bile helps break down fats during digestion, it also drains waste from the liver into the duodenum (a part of the small intestines).

3. What are gallstones?
Gallstones are formed from an excess of bile. Bile is made up of cholesterol, bile salts, and lecthinin. Bile is a digestive fluid produced by the liver. After we eat, the gallbladder releases bile into the intestines to help break the food down. You need bile but too much of cholesterol can cause gallstones.
The stored bile inside of the Gallbladder crystallizes and turns into hard stones, which are gallstones!
Types of gallstones that can form in the gallbladder include:
Cholesterol gallstones: The most common type of gallstone, called a cholesterol gallstone. Often appears yellow in color. These gallstones are composed mainly of undissolved cholesterol, but may contain other components.
Pigment gallstones: These dark brown or black stones form when your bile contains too much bilirubin.

4. Who discovered it and when
Alexander T.
Carl L.
Some of the earliest records of Gallstones date back to the twenty-first Egyptian Dynasty ( BC), Gallstones were discovered in a mummy.
Gallstones were mentioned in the 5th century by a Greek physician Alexander Trallianus, he wrote about finding stones within the bile duct.
In 1882 Carl Langenbuch from Berlin was the first to perform a cholecystectomy to remove the Gallbladder from a man who suffered from gallstones for 16 years, removing his gallbladder gave him instant relief overnight.

5. How common is it?
You're at risk for Gallstones if you are female, age 40 and over
being Native American or Mexican-American, being overweight or obese, pregnant, a diet that’s high in fat, a diet high in cholesterol, having a low-fiber diet, family history, have diabetes, lose weight rapidly, take medications that contain estrogen, or have liver disease.
8%of the adult population have gallstones.
50,000 people a year have surgery to remove their gallbladder.

6. How does it affect those who have it?
Those who have it may experience intense pain in the abdomen (upper right), the chest, back and in-between the shoulder blades.
You will also encounter gas, heart burn, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, jaundice and skin around eyes are yellowing.
The best diet to keep your gallbladder healthy would be; a low-fat, low-cholesterol and high in fiber diet. You’d want to stay away from cholesterol if you're avoiding getting Gallstones again, seeing there is cholesterol in Gallstones.
Foods to avoid:
Fatty red meat
Avoid fast food,
Foods in high in sugar/fats.
Whole-milk dairy products (cheese, ice cream, butter)

8. How is gallstones treated?
The treatment plan for gallstones varies on how the symptoms are shown or affecting your daily life.
Surgery: it is often the first option if you have significant symptoms, your doctor may need to perform surgery: Cholecystectomy which is Gallbladder removal is the common surgery.
Medication: to dissolve gallstones, although may take several years to eliminate the stones. If the gallstones are small and don’t contain calcium, it may be possible to take ursodeoxycholic acid tablets to dissolve them, but not recommended because:
Rarely effective
Need to be taken for a long time (up to 2 years)
Gallstones can reoccur when treatment is done.

9. What affect does it have on a person's diet?
There is no specific diet for treating symptoms of Gallstones, but eating a low-fat diet is likely to reduce symptoms while you are waiting for operation, as the gallbladder will not be stimulated to release bile into the small intestine
Eating: plenty of fruit and veggies, plenty of starchy carbohydrates, milk and diary products, drink plenty of fluids (H20, herbal teas).

10. Laparoscopic surgery:
Removal of the Gall bladder.
Cholecystectomy surgery:
Removes the gallbladder and gallstones through several small cuts (incisions) in the abdomen.

12. Interesting facts!!!!!
Gallbladder is a tiny organ. It is a part of one of the largest systems in human body – the digestive system. The organ is very important for proper functioning of the whole system.
Dalai Lama has went under a gallbladder surgery, In which resulted in the removal of multiple gallstones.
Jack black found he had gallstones when he was 16 y/o. in 2003 he had his gall bladder removed to end his gallstones problems.
Most interesting of gallbladder facts is that the bile that it releases into the duodenum is actually different from the bile that enters into it from the liver.

13. Interesting facts!!
Most interesting of gallbladder facts is that the bile that it releases into the duodenum is actually different from the bile that enters into it from the liver. (The difference is that the bile released into the duodenum is more concentrated that the bile the organ receives from liver.)
Gallstone's are formed mostly by hardened cholesterol.
Some people simply assume that once the gallbladder is removed, they will have diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome or other digestive problems. This is not at all true. There are several proper medical care options available which can effectively keep such digestive problems off the bay even if the gallbladder is removed.

14. Sources!
control/dieting_gallstones/Pages/dieting-and-gallstones