HEALTH

Everything you need to know about gallstones

Dr. Pargat Singh Bhurji MD,FRCP ( C ) Consultant Pediatrician surrery BC

Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder. Your gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of your abdomen, just beneath your liver. The gallbladder holds a digestive fluid called bile that’ s released into your small intestine.

Gallstones range in size from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball. Some people develop just one gallstone, while others develop many gallstones at the same time.

Symptoms of developing gallstones:

Gallstones may cause no signs or symptoms. If a gallstone lodges in a duct and causes a blockage, the resulting signs and symptoms may include:

4Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen 4Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the center of your abdomen, just below your breastbone 4Back pain between your shoulder blades 4Pain in your right shoulder 4Nausea or vomiting

It’s not clear what causes gallstones to form. Doctors think gallstones may result when:

Your bile contains too much cholesterol. Normally, your bile contains enough chemicals to dissolve the cholesterol excreted by your liver. But if your liver excretes more cholesterol than your bile can dissolve, the excess cholesterol may form into crystals and eventually into stones.

Your bile contains too much bilirubin. Bilirubin is a chemical that’s produced when your body breaks down red blood cells. Certain conditions cause your liver to make too much bilirubin, including liver cirrhosis, biliary tract infections and certain blood disorders. The excess bilirubin contributes to gallstone formation. completely or often enough, bile may become very concentrated, contributing to the formation of gallstones

Types of gallstones

Types of gallstones that can form in the gallbladder include:

Cholesterol gallstones. The most common type of gallstone, called a cholesterol gallstone, often appears yellow in color. These gallstones are composed mainly of undissolved cholesterol, but may contain other components.

Pigment gallstones. These dark brown or black stones form when your bile contains too much bilirubin.

Factors that may increase your risk of gallstones include:

4Being female 4Being age 40 or older 4Being a Native American 4Being a Mexican American 4Being overweight or obese 4Being sedentary 4Being pregnant 4Eating a high-fat diet 4Eating a high-cholesterol diet 4Eating a low-fiber diet 4Having diabetes 4Having certain blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia or leukemia 4Losing weight very quickly 4Taking medications that contain estrogen, such as oral contraceptives or hormone therapy drugs 4Having liver disease

Complications of gallstones may include:

Inflammation of the gallbladder: A gallstone that becomes lodged in the neck of the gallbladder can cause inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis). Cholecystitis can cause severe pain and fever.

Blockage of the common bile duct: Gallstones can block the tubes (ducts) through which bile flows from your gallbladder or liver to your small intestine. Severe pain, jaundice and bile duct infection can result.

Blockage of the pancreatic duct: The pancreatic duct is a tube that runs from the pancreas and connects to the common bile duct just before entering the duodenum. Pancreatic juices, which aid in digestion, flow through the pancreatic duct.A gallstone can cause a blockage in the pancreatic duct, which can lead to inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Pancreatitis causes intense, constant abdominal pain and usually requires hospitalization.

Gallbladder cancer: People with a history of gallstones have an increased risk of gallbladder cancer. But gallbladder cancer is very rare, so even though the risk of cancer is elevated, the likelihood of gallbladder cancer is still very small.

You can reduce your risk of gallstones if you:

Don’t skip meals: Try to stick to your usual mealtimes each day. Skipping meals or fasting can increase the risk of gallstones.

Lose weight slowly: If you need to lose weight, go slow. Rapid weight loss can increase the risk of gallstones. Aim to lose 1 or 2 pounds (about 0.5 to 1 kilogram) a week.

Eat more high-fiber foods: Include more fiber-rich foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity and being overweight increase the risk of gallstones. Work to achieve a healthy weight by reducing the number of calories you eat and increasing the amount of physical activity you get. Once you achieve a healthy weight, work to maintain that weight by continuing your healthy diet and continuing to exercise.

Contd. in next edition

For brides-to-be, there is no substitute to a consistent skincare routine and a well planned prebridal appointment with a dermatologist. If you haven’t done so until the last moment, these quick remedies will help you look your best on your big day.

Beauty hacks for brides-to-be

Remove makeup before bed

Double cleanse your face by using micellar water followed by a mild face wash to remove makeup completely before you sleep. If you are too tired by the end of the da (especially after one too many celebratory cocktails), keep alcohol-free makeup remover wipes at your bedside for a quick cleanse. Chapped lips fix

For instantly soft and lipstick-ready lips, mix sugar, coconut oil and honey and apply over lips. Leave on for 10 minutes and gently exfoliate lips with a clean toothbrush. De-puff eyes To avoid eye puffiness, elevate your head by using an extra pillow under the head when sleeping. This will prevent fluid pooling under the eyes. To temporarily reduce undereye puffiness, place chilled (brewed) green tea bags over closed eyes for 10mins. Acne fix

Waking up with a pesky zit is every bride’s worst nightmare. Cleanse your face every night with a salicylic acid based face wash and exfoliate gently once a week. If you do breakout, resist the urge to pick at it. Instead, use acne patches with hydrocolloid to speed up healing and conceal acne under the wedding makeup.

Keep the frizz away

A tried and tested home remedy for shiny, frizz- free hair is to mix apple cider vinegar, yogurt, honey and aloe vera. Use this as a hair mask for 30-minutes and rinse off with a mild shampoo for glossy strands. (Patch test for possible allergies) Don’t experiment

Last minute changes to your skin care routine might do more harm that good, since there isn’t enough time to recover from an unexpected reaction. Closer to the D-day, avoid any new products or treatments and stick to what you know suits your skin best. Watch your diet

A week prior to the wedding, avoiding excessive consumption of dairy and high sugar foods will help prevent acne flares and bloating. Especially for those prone to rosacea, limiting intake of alcohol and spicy foods will ensure no redness flares.

By: Puja Gupta

BASANT MUSIC & PRODUCTION PRESENTS

Cherish the biggest Finally, the greatest way you can show love to your parents is—that’s right—to just show love! For some people, this is gift you have! far easier to give a gift, mow a lawn, or give respect than it is to give a hug and say “I love you.” But however hard this may be,

Tyou may one day come to regret not telling oo often, the parents who raised, nurtured, and loved us are left Listen to them: parents how much you love and care for them is to give them that help whenever your parents how much you love them. Avoid that by just doing it. Give a warm behind as we grow up and pursue our dreams, but if you take a little time to show your love and appreciation, both you and your parents will benefit from a renewed relationship. Everyone yearns to be listened to, and unfortunately, most of us don’t have the greatest track record when it comes to our parents. As children, teenagers, and even young adults, we don’t tend to pay nearly you can. Show your affection: hug. Say something loving. Start getting used to openness. There are many ways to do this, but a few stand out as the best. Here are some ways to show love to your parents to help them understand how much they mean to you. enough attention to what they have to say. The next time you spend a day with your parents, just listen. Let them speak, and actively engage them on whatever it is they have to say. Ask for advice:

Ask them for advice. You know, the wisdom of ages they’ve been trying to get into your head for pretty much your entire life? Yeah, that stuff. Asking your parents for their thoughts and opinions will make them feel like the important part of your life that they are. In fact, for many parents, this would be a dream come true!

Help them out:

As your parents age, the balance of power between you and them begins to change. Instead of them taking care of you, sometimes you might find that they need your help more and more often.

One wonderful way to show your the hardest thing in the world. It can be

Happy Birthday Riya

italian recipes fOr this winter

Italian food is one of the few global cuisines that people are truly obsessed with. Italian food regularly features on the dining tables of most urban households, and more often than not, we fall back on pastas, pizzas and many more to satisfy our cravings for a good meal. Here are some winter recipes to make your menu more interesting.

Marinated Green Olives with Garlic & rOseMary

Ingredients

150 grams pitted green olives (drained), 1.5 teaspoon dried rosemary, 1/2 tsp lemon zest, 4 cloves garlic (crushed), 1 pinch kosher salt, 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil.

Method:

4Heat oil in a pan and sauté crushed garlic and rosemary. 4Add lemon zest and drained olives and sauté till aromatic. 4Cool and transfer the olives in a large bowl. 4Cover with cling wrap and refrigerate for 2-3 hours before serving. 4Serve marinated olives as an appetizer in small bowls with toothpicks.

Grilled veGetable pasta salad with leMOn sesaMe dressinG

INGREDIENTS:

250 grams penne pasta, 2 small size zucchini, thinly sliced, 5 baby corns, thinly sliced, 50 grams frozen peas, few basil leaves, 2 lemons, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, chili flakes (optional), salt and pepper.

Method:

Squeeze lemon juice in a mason jar or a small bowl and add salt and pepper to taste. Then, add parmesan cheese along with sesame seeds and extra virgin olive oil. Give it a whisk and set it aside to be used later.

Bring a big pot of water to boil and add 1 tablespoon salt to it. While the water boils, heat a grill pan and drizzle some oil. Layer the sliced zucchini and baby corn. Allow it to cook for a couple of minutes in high heat and then ip it. If the pan is small, grill the veggies in batches.

Once the water is boiled, drop the penne pasta and cook for 8 minutes or until it’s cooked to al dente. At the last minute, drop the frozen peas and allow them to soften.

Keep a serving bowl ready. Once the pasta is done, drain it along with the peas and put it in the bowl along with the grilled veggies. Pour the dressing and give it a toss. Scatter some basil leaves and shave some parmesan cheese on top. Serve warm or at room temperature.