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Articles on Medical Matters:

Cramps or Gallstones?

Do you experience abdominal pain thatlasts anywhere from 15 minutes to five hours? Do you also feel nauseous? And is the pain so bad that you often wake up in the middle of the night, trying to find the most comfortable position to return to sleep?

If you said yes to the above, you may have gallstones. Gallstones are collections of hard, solid material that form in the gallbladder. Some may be the size of a grain of sand, while others may be the size of a golf ball. People can develop just one large stone, hundreds of smaller stones, or combinations of both.

Located just behind the liver, the gallbladder is connected to the liver, pancreas and small intestine via small tubes or ducts. The function of the gallbladder is to store bile, a thick, brown and bitter liquid made by the liver to help the body digest fats. Bile consists of cholesterol, bilirubin and bile salts dissolved in water. While bile salts help the body digest fats, bilirubin and cholesterol are waste materials eliminated from the body.

Types of gallstones
Most gallstones form when there is too much cholesterol in the bile. Cholesterol drops out of the liquid part of bile to form tiny crystals that eventually group together to become larger masses called gallstones. Cholesterol stones can also form when the gallbladder does not empty normally, and the bile is stored for too long. Most people with gallstones have cholesterol stones.

Some gallstones form from bilirubin, a pigment the liver removes from blood as old red blood cells die and break apart. They are called "pigment stones". Individuals can also have "mixed" stones, mixtures of cholesterol, bilirubin, calcium and other material.

Gallstones are mostly "silent", but once they become symptomatic, they commonly cause biliary colic or a severe and sudden pain in the middle or right abdomen. This pain is laso often accompanied by nausea. But fear not, there is a relatively simple solution.

How can we treat them?
The most common treatment for symptomatic gallstones is surgery or cholecystectomy, where the gallbladder is removed either via open surgery or laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery. Because the gallbladder is not an essential organ, it can be removed with few adverse effects. Some people experience diarrhoea after surgery, but this normally improves over time.

If the mere mention of surgery scares you off, oral medication is available. But this can only dissolve small, non-calcified cholesterol gallstones. Plus, it is not a very effective solution as less than 50 per cent of the stones dissolve, and 50 per cent of them tend to rcur. Besides, it can take anywhere from months to years for the stones to dissolve.

Another form of non-surgical treatment is Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL). This involves using an ultrasound to locate the gallstones. Shock waves are then directed at them from outside the body until they shatter. After this treatment, most people need to take medication to dissolve the fragments. Unfortunately, this treatment does not work for large or multiple stones.

There are also alternatives remedies for gallstones that involve "natural cleansing" of the gallbladder and liver using olive oil and lemon juice. But as these have yet to be scientifically tested, it is best to exercise discretion when trying them.

Pam Piruzi
23 Apr 2007

This article is abstracted from the Nov 2006 issue of Ezyhealth & Beauty, Singapore's prime health and beauty magazine

Colon Care - Learn How To Prevent Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer refers to cancer that develops in the digestive system, which processes food and rids the body of solid waste. The colon is the first and largest part of the five-feet long large intestine of which only the final six inches is the rectum. The colon absorbs water and nutrients from food and stores solid waste. The waste moves into the rectum and passes out of the body through the anus. Cancers affecting either the colon or the rectum are called colorectal cancer.

Most colorectal cancers arise from benign polyps (abnormal masses of tissue) that spread very slowly, taking between 10 and 20 years to become cancerous.

According to US National Cancer Institute, the following symptoms may suggest colorectal cancer:
- Change in bowel habits
- Blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- A feeling that the bowel has not been completely emptied
- Stools that are narrower than usual
- Frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness or cramps
- Weight loss for no known reason
- Fatigue
- Vomiting

These symptoms may also be caused by other conditions, thus it is important to consult a doctor to determine the cause.

Managing controllable risk factors can reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer. For preventive care, the American Cancer Society lists diet and physical activity among other measures. It is important to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods, and to limit the intake of high-fat foods. Indeed, according to Dr Ulrike Peters from the National Cancer Institute, "Dietary fibre, particularly form grains, cereals and fruits are associated with decreased risk of distal colon adnemona (benign tumour)."

Physical activity is another area that can be improved. The American Cancer Society recommends at least 30 minutes of physical activity on at least five days each week.

Aida Uy Sze
23 Apr 2007
Singapore

This article is abstracted form the magazine Ezyhealth & Beauty, the Nov 2006 issue. Singapore's prime health and beauty magazine

Stroke: Remember The First 3 Letters...

If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks. Seriously.. Please read:
STROKE IDENTIFICATION:
During a BB Q, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm, Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.
It only takes a minute to read this...
A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.
RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S *Ask the individual to SMILE.
T *Ask the person to TALK . to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE
(Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today)
R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
{NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue... if the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke}
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

From,
Someone Who Cares
01 May 2007