A radiating pain in the back that continued for hours, loss of appetite along with nausea forced Mr N to see a doctor. On investigation it was revealed that he had stones in his gallbladder.
Gallbladder, the pear-shaped organ of our digestive system, stores and concentrates bile which helps to absorb the complex fatty food that we consume. It also helps us in the absorption of fat soluble substances including fat-based vitamins such as Vitamin A, D, E and K.
A common ailment associated with the gallbladder is gallstones. One of the most common reasons for this, especially in Pakistan, is the saturation of bile with cholesterol. This saturation happens due to the increase of cholesterol — which in itself is insoluble within bile but is made soluble and eliminated due to the presence of bile salts — or reduction of bile salts. Loss of gallbladder motility, increased bilirubin, obstruction in the bile fluid pathway and localised infection may also contribute towards the formation of a gallstone.
Women over the age of forty who are overweight need to be particularly vigilant
What are gallstones?
Gallstones are hard, pebble-like structures that obstruct the bile pathway. Based on the composition there are different types of gallstones, of which cholesterol stones and mixed stones are the most common type.
Pre-disposing risk factors
The predisposing factors for gallstones can best be understood by the ‘5Fs of the gallstones’. These factors may, singly or in combination, provide for the most conducive pre-requisite of gallstone formation, and are as follow:
1-Fat (being over-weight. BMI more than 30)
2-Forty (age nearing 40 years or above; rare in young)
3-Female (it is proposed that roughly every three female to one male carry gallstones)
4-Fertile (one or more children)
5-Fair (Caucasians are more vulnerable to gallstones)
In case of a younger individual carrying gallstones the ‘F’ for 40 is replaced with ‘F’ for Familial. It is very likely that a younger individual may have a positive family history.