Showing posts with label Cholecystitis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cholecystitis. Show all posts

Monday, June 23, 2014

How Nutritional Supplements Can Be Used To Help Treat Cholecystitis

How Nutritional Supplements Can Be Used To Help Treat Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gall bladder. Acute
cholecystitis is usually associated with blockage of the cystic duct by
a stone. Mechanical obstruction, chemical inflammation, and bacterial
infection are believed to play a role. A vast majority of patients are
believed to become symptomatic due to bacterial infection.



Three factors contribute to the onset of inflammation - stasis of
bile in the gall bladder, release of lysolecithin, and super-infection
with bacteria.



Much more common in women, particularly in middle aged, obese women who have had several children.



There is usually severe, sudden, or gradual pain in the right upper
abdomen, with nausea, chills, vomiting, high fever, and sometimes
referred pain in the back or the right shoulder blade. The symptoms of
chronic cholecystitis are less severe and include discomfort in the
right upper abdomen, gas, belching, heartburn, or indigestion.



Patients with mild and infrequent symptoms may consider oral
medication to dissolve gallstones. Antibiotics and, if vomiting has
been severe, hospitalization for intravenous fluids are preliminary
treatments for acute cholecystitis. If there is no improvement, the
gall bladder is removed (cholecystectomy). Sometimes it is necessary to
drain the gall bladder (cholecystotomy) to allow the patient to become
well enough for the gall bladder to be completely removed. For patients
with symnptoms from chronic cholecystitis, cholecystectomy is usually
recommended.



TREATMENT



Identify and avoid food allergies, especially eggs and/or cow's milk
products. Cut down fat in diet, below 20 percent of total foods. Do
not, however, cut out fat completely. Recent studies say that up to
half of the people who try to lose weight by cutting out fat (eating
less than six hundred calories and three grams of fat per day) develop
gallstones. Avoid processed fats and hydrogenated fats. Eat less.
Overeating is very stressful on the gallbladder. Eat regular meals,
especially breakfast. It is hard on the gallbladder to go many hours
without food and then suddenly have to deal with a large meal. Increase
dietary fiber and decrease refined carbohydrates. Eat less animal foods
and move toward a vegetarian-oriented diet. If you are overweight, lose
the weight, but slowly and sensibly.



Nutritional supplements that may be helpful include:

Multi-enzymes with bile (bile is contraindicated if ulcers coexist)

Vitamin C

Vitamin B complex

Choline inositol

Alfalfa tablets

Lethicin

Acidophilus

L-taurine

Peppermint oil sipped in water throughout the meal may be helpful when having symptoms.



The
nutrients mentioned above reflect the major nutritional supplements
that may help the condition. Please do remember however that
nutritional supplementation is an adjunct to medical treatment and in
no way replaces medical treatment.