Lucy D

Shane 

Science 

The research project I am doing is about gallstones. They affect the gallbladder which contains the bile. The bile helps with digestion and it carries cholesterol and bilirubin. Bilirubin is what the body makes when we break down red blood cells. These things can cause gallstones which, as they sound, are roundish hard things in your gallbladder that can be as small as a grain of sand to as big as a golf ball. The reason they have to be treated is that they block your bile duct and can cause immense pain which you would need to get treated right away.  

If you have these symptoms then you may have gallstones. The symptoms are pain in the upper right abdomen, pain in between the shoulder blades, vomiting, heartburn, indigestion, and gas. Doctors are not positive about what causes gallstones however they have few hypotheses. Such as too much cholesterol in your bile, your gallbladder does not empty all the way, and too much bilirubin in your bile. 

Most with gallstones do not even feel any symptoms so they do not need any treatment but if you have the symptoms and have severe pain you need treatment. There are different kinds judging how serious the gallstones are. Your doctor may say you need surgery to remove your gallbladder altogether. If less serious your doctor will prescribe medication to dissolve the gallstones. 

There is also a genetic side to gallstones. You are more likely to get them if you are over 40, a women, your family has a past history of gallstones, if you are Native American, if you are Mexican, have diabetes, are obese, if you are fasting, if you do not get much exercise, have an intestinal disease, if you are pregnant.

The main purpose of this paper is to learn and teach my classmates about gallstones. It is important for us all to educate ourselves and others about diseases so we are aware of what is happening with others so we can show empathy.        

 

https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/gallstones#1       https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gallstones/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354220