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Reducing Your Risk of Gallbladder Disease

Q: Last week my sister found out that she needs to have her gallbladder removed. This comes only eight months after my mom had hers taken out. I know gallstones tend to run in families, and since my sister's only two years older than I am, I figure I must be next. Is there any way to lower my risk?


Dr. Donnica:
You're right; gallstones do run in families. The good news is that there are several steps you can take to reduce your risk. You should know, however, that gallstones are very common. They account for more than 800,000 hospitalizations annually in the US and are believed to affect more than 20 million Americans. Women are twice as likely as men to be affected, in large part because of several additional risk factors: birth control pills, multiple pregnancies, obesity, and rapid weight loss diets. When I was in medical school, we learned that the typical gallstone patient is female, fat, fertile, and forty. In fact, gallstones can be found in anyone. The other known risk factors include blood diseases with rapid breakdown of red blood cells (e.g. sickle cell anemia or hereditary spherocytosis), cirrhosis, Crohn's disease, diabetes, pancreatic disease, and hyperparathyroidism. If you have any of these conditions, treating them will reduce your risk of gallstones.

The first thing you should focus on is a dietary strategy. If you are overweight, take a slow and steady course to weight loss, like a Weight Watchers program, and then maintain a healthy weight. Increase your consumption of both soluble (e.g. guar gum and pectin, oat bran, wheat bran, and soy fiber) and insoluble fiber. An easy way to do this is to increase your consumption of fruits and veggies. While you don't have to become a vegetarian, they are known to have a significantly lower incidence of gallstones. If you like coffee, you are in luck: Coffee drinking has also been associated with a reduced risk of gallstone symptoms. Regular aerobic exercise, such as jogging, running, racquet sports, and brisk walking for 30 minutes five times a week, will not only help you with your weight management goals, but it may also significantly reduce your risk of gallbladder disease. As for preventive medicines, there is some controversy about whether nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like aspirin or ibuprofen, may help reduce risk. There is also a prescription drug called Actigall® which is FDA approved to prevent gallstones.


Created: 8/8/2005  -  Donnica Moore, M.D.


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