Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Gallstones can cause Jaundice and Pancreatitis

The Dispatch: "In normal cases, the gallbladder stores bile - a combination of cholesterol, bile salts and a chemical called bilirubin - which is released into the intestine as an enzyme to ease the digestion of fatty foods. When these elements get out of balance, the components can create solid crystals, commonly known as gallstones. Should the stones slip out of the gallbladder, they can block the flow of bile into the intestines or cause jaundice, and if they slip too far down, they can irritate the pancreas causing pancreatitis."
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It's rare, but it can happen.

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