A person thinks about his body most often when something starts to bother him - there is pain or discomfort caused by health problems of an organ or system. Sometimes stagnation in the gallbladder makes itself felt. What to do in this case, what tests need to be done to make the correct diagnosis, how to help the body cope with the problem that has arisen, will be described below.
About the gall bladder
All elements of the human body must perform a single, coordinated work. At least sometimes we recall some of them — the heart, stomach, and organs of the reproductive system, for example. And we recall about some parts of a single system very, very rarely, only when they make themselves felt. Stagnation in the gallbladder is just that reason when a person thinks about the health and this inconspicuous worker.
The gallbladder itself is a hollow organ, somewhat reminiscent of a bag - an elongated shape helps it to "hide" under the liver. But despite the invisibility and small size, the functionality of the gallbladder is very important for the work of the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore for the whole organism. The work of the organ is the collection, storage and periodic release into the small intestine of the secretion produced by the liver - bile. The quality of the digestive process largely depends on the proper functioning of the gallbladder, which means that the body assimilates all the necessary components that come with food. Diseases of the organ, for example, gallbladder cholestasis, cause many health problems, ranging from painful sensations to life-long intake of special drugs for the high-quality process of digesting food.
Liver secret
The gallbladder in its functionality has one feature - it does not produce the secret that it accumulates. The liver produces bile by sending it through a special channel to the “bag”, where it is stored until a certain point. The release of bile from the gallbladder is activated when the food lump passes from the stomach into the small intestine. Violation of the outflow of bile affects the quality of the digestive process, which is almost completed in the upper intestinal tract. The functional secretion of the liver, which accumulates, stores and moves the gallbladder into the intestines, is quite extensive for such a small organ:
- neutralizes pepsin - an enzyme of gastric secretion that breaks down proteins from food to the state of peptides;
- activation of the regeneration processes regularly necessary for the intestines;
- participation in the production of micelles - constituents of a surface-active digestive component that helps break down fats;
- mucus production due to the work of emulsifying substances, which include surfactants;
- work to maintain intestinal motility in the desired mode;
- participation in the digestion of protein;
- removal from the body with feces of cholesterol, bilirubin, metals, steroids after reabsorption by the intestine or filtration in the gallbladder.
The saturated activity of the secretion of the gallbladder is based on its composition, and bile includes:
- water, which is detected up to 80% of the total mass;
- from 8 to 10% of bile salts;
- about 4% of pigments and mucus;
- up to 2% fatty acids;
- less than 1% inorganic salts;
- about 0.4% cholesterol.
All substances found in bile must be in stable equilibrium, the imbalance of which leads to disruptions not only in the gallbladder, but also in the digestive system as a whole. If all water is removed from the composition of bile, then its main mass - almost 70% - will fall on primary and secondary bile acids, as derivatives of cholanic acid. By its acidity, the secretion of the liver, collected by the gallbladder, refers to alkalis. Violation of the composition of the secretion of the liver leads to a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract. What is the danger of stagnation of bile in the gallbladder? It is a change in the equilibrium of its components and the potential threat of transformation into a lithogenic form.
Potential problems
Like any other organ in the body, the gallbladder performs its functions for a specific purpose, the main direction of which is to ensure the quality of the digestion process with the help of the collected, stored and timely released liver hepatocyte secretion. One of the most common problem states is stagnation in the gallbladder. Its causes are associated with a violation of the composition of bile. This leads to the fact that bile liquid in its consistency acquires a more dense, so-called lithogenic structure. However, nutritional features, impaired bile duct patency, or malfunctioning of the sphincters can lead to such a pathology. About how to treat stagnation of bile, ask all those who have encountered such a problem.
How does stagnation of bile manifest
Since bile is an active component of the system of digestion of food, the problems caused by its stagnation affect primarily this area of the human body. With a lack of ejection of bile into the small intestine or a change in its structure, changes occur during digestion:
- the acidity of the contents of the small intestine increases;
- the properties of the enzymes produced by the pancreas are violated;
- lipids do not undergo the process of emulsification, and therefore are not able to penetrate the blood;
- cholesterol filtration processes are disrupted, which ceases to be excreted with feces, and returns to the blood, where it can be deposited on the walls of blood vessels;
- carbohydrates are not able to be converted into glycogen without bile, which affects a decrease in activity due to the limited availability of its reserves.
This is a fairly serious, potentially dangerous condition - stagnation of bile in the gallbladder. Symptoms of it manifest much later than the problem itself. But over time, a person begins to feel periodically appearing heaviness in the abdomen, belching, bitterness in the mouth, nausea. With serious failures in the hepatobiliary system, a yellow coating appears on the tongue. Digestion leads to the appearance of putrid odor from the mouth, not associated with poor dental health. Constipation or diarrhea, flatulence and bloating appear. Since fats are not digested, but excreted in an almost unchanged form, steatorrhea develops - feces are shiny, light in color. Gallbladder cholestasis is the main reason why bile is not able to enter the intestines. It has several characteristic symptoms:
- severe itching, mainly in the palms and feet;
- the appearance of age spots - xanthoma and xanthelasm;
- pain in the right hypochondrium;
- maceration, i.e. swelling, thinning of the skin.
Also, stagnation in the gallbladder affects general well-being - there is weakness, a breakdown.
Hepatic secret and a special period in the life of a woman
Pregnancy causes many changes in the work of all body systems of a woman. Correcting in accordance with the need for bearing a new life, the hormonal background affects almost all processes that take place to ensure vital functions. In some women, the work of hepatothrombin receptors producing bile and the bile duct system are also affected. They cease to "understand" each other, and bile does not have time to be excreted from the gallbladder in the amount in which it is produced and accumulates. A woman begins to suffer from severe itching, discoloration of the sclera and skin on the icteric, the appearance of age spots, and a blood test shows an increased level of bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Stagnation of bile in the gallbladder, the symptoms of which are rather unpleasant, for a pregnant woman requires a mandatory visit to a specialist.
Diagnose a problem
The gall bladder and liver are “silent” organs, they begin to actively signal their malfunctions when the problem becomes deep enough. Stagnation in the gallbladder is difficult to determine by taking an anamnesis and external examination. To make an adequate diagnosis, the patient must undergo a whole range of examinations. These will be:
- blood test in standard form;
- urinalysis for urobilirubin;
- a study on the components of bile - bilirubin, AST and ALT, bile acids, cholesterol, gamma-glutamintranspeptidase - hepatic enzyme, alkaline phosphatase;
- antibodies to helminthiasis;
- coagulogram.
If you suspect cholestasis, cholecystitis associated with stagnation of bile, the patient undergoes the following instrumental and diagnostic methods:
- ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and liver with the gallbladder in particular;
- esogastroduodenoscopy;
- scintography of the liver and gall bladder;
- roentgenogram retrograde endoscopic bile ducts, bladder, liver;
- computer or magnetic resonance imaging.
A comprehensive examination will reveal the existing problems of the gallbladder, ducts, liver, and receive adequate treatment.
Features of childhood
Stagnation of bile in the gallbladder in a child is not so rare. The reasons for it may be:
- impaired motor function due to changes in the physical form of the gallbladder and ducts;
- violation of nutritional balance;
- viral diseases of the digestive system - the liver, gall bladder, bile ducts;
- impaired functional sphincter of the gallbladder;
- tumor-like formations of various nature, localized in the liver-gallbladder system;
- the so-called bend of the gallbladder - a change in the shape of the organ, entailing the inability of the secret to circulate in the system;
- helminthiases;
- malfunctions of the nervous system;
- congenital malformations of the physical structure of the organ.
Any long-term disturbance of the digestive process can be an impetus for the development of cholestasis in the baby and stagnation of bile, then digestion and a deterioration in the general health of the child will follow. Children suffering from such problems experience pain in the right hypochondrium, they have inconsistent stools - diarrhea is replaced by diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, bitterness in the mouth periodically appear. The baby's skin may become yellowish, blackheads appear, and itching bothers. With prolonged stagnation, an inflammatory process develops, against which a low-grade fever appears - about 37.2-37.3 degrees. As well as for adults, children are required to consult and examination, passing tests and passing the necessary examinations.
Help Principles
The main question that needs to be answered in case of violations of the gallbladder is how to improve the outflow of bile. It is also necessary to find out the reason for the failure in the normal functioning of this body, and how to eliminate the consequences of stagnation. Relapse prevention is also needed. Standing in the gallbladder requires complex treatment, which includes all the possibilities of modern medicine, including physiotherapy exercises, time-tested folk recipes, and diet.
Medications
Medicines used in the treatment of cholestasis and similar problems associated with impaired bile circulation can be divided by their field of work:
- choleretic drugs with stagnation of bile are used only in cases where the outflow of liver secretion is not disturbed. These are drugs such as Allohol, Hofitol, Holagol, Odeston. They have different active components, but work to enhance the secretion of the liver and enhance its circulation;
- hepatoprotectors that normalize the general condition of the liver and, as a result, improve the production of bile. In this group of drugs, substances such as ademetionine, glutamate arginine, betaine, thioctic acid and some others can work. Which drug to prescribe in each case, only a specialist can decide.
In case of violation of the bile flow due to calculi, a change in the physical form of the gallbladder, surgery is most often prescribed to eliminate the cause of obstruction of the bile ducts. Preoperative preparation and the postoperative period also include a range of drugs that provide the most positive outcome for such treatment.
Preparations for the treatment of bile stasis can work on both synthetic and natural substances, the latter being of both plant and animal origin. It can also be derivatives of amino acids, essential phospholipids. One of these substances is ursodeoxycholic acid. It is the primary bile acid produced in the human body, and takes an active part in the processes of immunomodulation, bile formation and circulation of bile, has a hypocholesterolemic, hepatoprotective, cholelitolytic effect. The drugs on this substance - "Ursofalk", "Greenterol", "Ursodez" - only a doctor prescribes for use!
Herbs to help
Herbs with stagnation of bile in the gallbladder are one of the popular areas of treatment. The most commonly used plant in violation of the circulation of bile is milk thistle. Popularly, it is better known as marin thistle. This plant has long been famous for its ability to liquefy bile, increasing its outflow from the liver and gall bladder. The main active ingredient that works in milk thistle is silymarin. It protects the cell membranes from damage, allowing the hepatocytes to actively produce bile, and the cells of the gallbladder can better do their job of maintaining the secretion of the liver and releasing it into the intestine at the request of the body.
Another plant most commonly used in the treatment of bile stasis is the artichoke. It also promotes the active passage of bile through the bile ducts, helping even pregnant women cope with cholestasis.
How to treat stagnation of bile with the above plants? It turns out that they are all used in pharmaceutical products developed by the pharmaceutical industry to eliminate this problem. Milk thistle works in medicines such as Karsil, Silimar, Legalon, Silymarin.
Artichoke is used as a component of biologically active food supplements, produced by various companies to help the liver and gall bladder, both as an adjunct to treatment and as a prophylactic. The most popular pharmacy product containing artichoke extract is Hofitol.
For many it will be a discovery, but the rosehip, in addition to saturating the body with vitamins, also has choleretic properties. Therefore, its decoction is useful for stagnation of bile for both children and adults.
Pumpkin seeds are also a popular remedy for gallbladder health and cookies. They are sold in pharmacies, and you can procure yourself by removing it from a mature pumpkin. They are the basis of the popular pharmaceutical products Ovesol and Tykveol.
Cholagogue with stagnation of bile should be taken only after examination, when there is confidence that the flow of bile does not interfere with stones, polyps, tumors. Using the so-called tubage without examination and expert advice is strictly prohibited!
Therapeutic diet
Nutrition plays a special role in the fight against many health problems. So the diet for stagnation of bile in the gallbladder is a necessary component of successful therapy. This type of medical nutrition was developed by specialists - doctors and nutritionists, and has an official name - table No. 5. It is based on several important principles that must be observed when preparing each dish:
- liquid - 1.5-2.0 liters per day;
- fractional nutrition - small portions 5-6 times a day;
- vegetable oils, the daily portion of which is calculated based on the calculation of a person’s body weight - from 1.0 to 1.2 grams per kilogram;
- animal oils should be no more in mass than vegetable oils;
- lipotropic products are necessarily present - lean meat, fish, egg white, cottage cheese;
- vegetables and fruits, with the exception of those in which there is a large amount of acids, moreover, fiber contained in such products contributes to normal intestinal motility;
- a feature is the restriction of extractives and products containing a large amount of cholesterol and easily digestible carbohydrates - whole milk, spices, animal fats, sugar, jam, sweets;
- daily dose of salt should not exceed 8 grams.
All products of the dietary table with stagnation of bile should be steamed, baked or boiled. Fried, smoked, pickled dishes are not allowed. Nutrition with stagnation in the gallbladder should be complete, contain the maximum possible amount of minerals and vitamins. If they are deficient, it is necessary to consult a doctor about taking vitamin-mineral complexes.
Without physical education - nowhere
“Movement is life” - this slogan is also relevant for those who suffer from impaired activity of the gallbladder, ducts, or liver. Exercises with stagnation in the gallbladder help normalize the motility of the liver-gallbladder system. A set of exercises should be prescribed by a teacher of physiotherapy exercises in accordance with the established diagnosis. But the main complex of physical activity contains the following exercises:
- walking in place for 2-3 minutes;
- breathing exercise aimed at activating the abdominal muscles - inhale by drawing in the stomach - hold your breath - exhale by sticking out your stomach (repeat 7-10 times);
- main stance - legs spaced shoulder width apart, feet straight, arms down;
- leaning forward: raise your arms up, stretching as high as possible, lower your arms, tilting the body as low as possible;
- rising on toes, hands through the sides to raise upward, turning the palms up, too, then, standing on a full foot, lower your hands, spreading the palms down;
- put your hands on the belt, tilt the case forward, then return to its original position and lean back;
- putting your hands on your belt, perform shallow squats;
- rotate the housing, maintaining the maximum amplitude of the slopes;
- Perform bends forward and down, trying to reach the opposite foot with the palm of your hand;
- rotation of the body to the right and left, putting hands on the belt, with the maximum possible amplitude of rotation;
- the treatment complex ends with an exercise that has been common since childhood: stretch, raising arms up, gradually lower your arms down.
Each exercise should be performed at least 5-7 times. If possible, then such exercises aimed at working the abdominal muscles, and therefore, to intensify the work of internal organs, can be performed lying down - raising and lowering the legs, turning the legs and body, tilting, swinging the legs.
It should be remembered that all exercises of physiotherapy exercises with a disease such as stagnation in the gallbladder should be recommended by a specialist only after examinations and diagnosis, in which exacerbations of the disease due to increased physical activity are excluded.
Violations in the work of internal organs, including the activity of the gallbladder, lead not only to painful sensations, but also to a violation of the usual rhythm of human life. Therefore, stagnation of the gallbladder is best prevented than spending time and energy on examinations, and then on treatment.