In Ayurveda it is known as PRATISHYAYA mainly due to vitiation of DOSHAS (Vata, Pitta & Kapha).
The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ that averages three to six inches in length. It lies underneath the liver in the upper right side of the abdomen. It is connected to the liver and small intestine by small tubes called bile ducts. Bile, a greenish-brown fluid, is utilized by the body to digest fatty foods and assists in the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. The gallbladder serves as a reservoir for bile. Between meals, bile accumulates and is concentrated within this organ. During meals, the gallbladder contracts and empties bile into the intestine to assist in digestion.
There are two major types of gallstones:
· Cholesterol gallstones are composed mainly of cholesterol which is made in the liver. These account for nearly 80% of all cases of gallstones in the United States.
· Pigment gallstones are composed of calcium salts, bilirubin and other material. They account for the remaining 20% of gallstones in this country.
Causes for Gall stone :
Approximately 80% of all gallstones are completely asymptomatic and "silent." The chance that a "silent" gallstone will become symptomatic is 2% for each year.
· People who are overweight
· Older persons
· Pregnant women
· Women who use hormone contraceptives and post-menopausal hormones
· Persons with a family history of gallstones
· Persons of American Indian ancestry
· Persons with diseases of the small intestine
· Persons who have recently lost weight.
Symptoms of gallstone disease:
Symptoms of gallbladder disease occur when gallstones irritate the gallbladder. The most common symptoms associated with gallstone disease include:
· Severe and intermittent pain in the right upper abdomen. This pain can also spread to the chest, shoulders or back. Sometimes this pain may be mistaken for a heart attack.
· Chronic indigestion and nausea.
How are gallstones identified?
Nearly all gallstones can be easily identified by an ultrasound examination. This is a simple and painless procedure in which sound waves are utilized to create pictures of the gall-bladder, bile ducts and its contents. This test is highly sensitive for identifying either gallstones or sludge within the gallbladder.
What can be done at home?
Recurrent painful attacks, if mild, can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers. Placing something warm on your stomach may be helpful, taking care not to scald the skin. The frequency of attacks may be reduced by a low-fat diet.
