Similarities Between Gallbladder And Gallstones
The Gallbladder and Gallstones as they relate to Obesity Being overweight or obese affects many parts of the body and its functions. One of the parts of the body affected by obesity is the gallbladder. An obese person’s gallbladder produces gallstones from bile, which can have harmful effects on the body. Obesity can cause the gallbladder to create gallstones, which, if big enough, can produce pain in the body. Gallstones are formed when the body has imbalances in the substances making up bile. “Gallstones may form if bile contains too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or not enough bile salts. . . Gallstones also may form if the gallbladder does not empty completely or often enough” (Gallstones). If bile matches these conditions,
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“[Symptoms] of gallstones or a gallstone attack include [severe] pain in the upper right side of the abdomen that starts suddenly and lasts from 30 minutes to several hours [and pain] under the right shoulder or in the right shoulder blade” (Risks of Obesity: Gallstones). Obesity can drastically increase the risk of having gallstone attacks due to the increased production of gallstones. To prevent the risk of gallstone attacks, many obese people who have encountered these symptoms decide to undergo a cholecystectomy, or gallbladder surgery, to prevent any further harm. “If a patient has experienced symptomatic gallstones prior to choosing their treatment therapy, then it is logical and appropriate to perform a cholecystectomy either before or concurrently with the treatment option” (Gallbladder Disease and the Obese Patient). The costs of having this surgery can be expensive for health insurance companies or, without health insurance, the person having the surgery. “Gallbladder surgery typically is covered by health insurance. For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically consist of a specialist copay, possibly a hospital copay of $100 or more. . . For patients without health insurance, gallbladder surgery typically costs $10,000-$20,000” (Gallbladder Surgery Cost). However, performing this surgery
“[Symptoms] of gallstones or a gallstone attack include [severe] pain in the upper right side of the abdomen that starts suddenly and lasts from 30 minutes to several hours [and pain] under the right shoulder or in the right shoulder blade” (Risks of Obesity: Gallstones). Obesity can drastically increase the risk of having gallstone attacks due to the increased production of gallstones. To prevent the risk of gallstone attacks, many obese people who have encountered these symptoms decide to undergo a cholecystectomy, or gallbladder surgery, to prevent any further harm. “If a patient has experienced symptomatic gallstones prior to choosing their treatment therapy, then it is logical and appropriate to perform a cholecystectomy either before or concurrently with the treatment option” (Gallbladder Disease and the Obese Patient). The costs of having this surgery can be expensive for health insurance companies or, without health insurance, the person having the surgery. “Gallbladder surgery typically is covered by health insurance. For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically consist of a specialist copay, possibly a hospital copay of $100 or more. . . For patients without health insurance, gallbladder surgery typically costs $10,000-$20,000” (Gallbladder Surgery Cost). However, performing this surgery