Gallstones: danger to the heart!
Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.
More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.Anyone who has gallstones should keep a close eye on their risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Because then the risk of developing coronary heart disease is particularly high. The narrowing of the vessels that supply the heart is a major cause of heart attack or stroke.
Researchers working with Lu Qui from Tulane University in News Orleans found out that the risk of CHD is 23 percent higher for gallstone owners or those who have once been. To this end, the scientists evaluated data from around 270,000 people as part of a meta study.
Common Risk Factors
One explanation for this is the fact that gallstones and atherosclerosis share different risk factors, including diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, as well as high blood pressure and an unhealthy diet.What promotes the formation of gallstones is also bad for the heart.
However, those gallstone patients who had none of the above-mentioned risk factors had a particularly high risk of a heart attack compared to healthy people without gallstones. “We have thus found an independent factor beyond the traditional risk factors,” the researchers said.
One explanation could be that the stones prevent the release of bile acid. And according to previous studies, this is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In addition, the intestinal flora of people with gallstones is changed. This could also pose a hitherto unknown risk to vascular health.
Conversely, the researchers believe: "Those who prevent gallstones could also do something for their heart health". Proper nutrition in particular could be an important lever for this. Simple measures such as a lot of fiber and little sugar are considered helpful. At the same time you should try to keep your normal weight.
Blocked bile ducts
Gallstones are crystallized, poorly soluble components of the bile. They are located in the gallbladder and bile ducts. If they clog it, pain up to the severity of colic can occur. But stones in the gallbladder can also cause pain if the organ becomes inflamed.
Surgery usually involves removing the entire gallbladder. This procedure is one of the most common - gallstones are common. According to estimates, one in ten people in Germany has some, but most of them do not feel any of it. In addition to the risk factors mentioned above, genes also have an influence on personal risk.
Source: Yan Zheng et al .: Gallstones and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease, Prospective Analysis of 270,000 Men and Women from 3 US Cohorts and Meta-Analysis, ATVBAHA.116.307507; Published online before print August 18, 2016, doi: 10.1161 / ATVBAHA.116.307507
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