Stagnation of bile acid in the body, accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, is called cholestasis.
Since the liver takes an active part in metabolic and protective processes, any failure in its functioning negatively affects human life.
We invite you to get acquainted with the phenomenon of thick bile in the gallbladder; the treatment of this pathology will be discussed in the article.
Gallbladder cholestasis is a dangerous disease that should be treated immediately. What symptoms does it characterize and why does it occur? After reading this material, you will receive answers.
What role does bile play in the digestive process?
It is a mistake to believe that congestive gallbladder is not a disease. The functioning of this organ is interconnected with the functioning of the liver.
Cholestasis of the gallbladder provokes a malfunction of the liver. This leads to a number of negative consequences.
The digestion process occurs due to the formation of yellow acid in the liver. After formation within the organ, it passes through the bile ducts directly into the stomach.
Next, a complex chemical process occurs in the intestines - mechanical food processing. Liquefaction of bile is required if it stagnates in the ducts and does not enter the intestines.
If the outflow of yellow acid is disrupted, there will be a malfunction in digestive work.
Interesting! Many people suffering from cholestasis note rapid weight gain, although the amount of food they consume is minimal. This is due to the slow absorption of fats by the body.
Stagnation of bile in the gallbladder leads to a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract. A person encountering it will suffer from constipation or diarrhea.
Moreover, this pathology is characterized by severe colic in the right hypochondrium. During a painful attack, a person suffers from severe discomfort, which cannot always be relieved with painkillers.
It turns out that bile is a “starter” for the stomach. Its entry into the intestines is a signal for the start of food digestion. It turns out that digestion without this acid is impossible.
Stagnant bile in the gallbladder provokes a malfunction of the liver. As a result, the body's metabolism slows down.
Consequently, a congestive gallbladder leads to disruption of the functioning of the body as a whole. Main properties of yellow liquid:
- Neutralization of pepsin enzymes.
- Neutralization of hydrochloric acid.
- Antibacterial effect on the lesion (promoting the export of pathogens, including toxins).
- Emulsification of fats.
- Relief of congestion.
- Improving intestinal peristalsis, maintaining its tone.
Diagnostics
Most often, the gallbladder is examined using ultrasound. The procedure is performed on an empty stomach, when the organ is filled and stretched. Sometimes during the examination the patient is asked to eat in order to see the “splash” and understand why the release of fluid is difficult (spasm, presence of stones). Treatment for thick bile depends on the causes of the disease identified during the examination.
In addition to ultrasound, the doctor can do duodenal intubation of the duodenum. Using a probe, the amount of bile in the intestines is determined, and then its composition is analyzed. They help the doctor more accurately understand how to treat thick bile, urine and stool tests, and a study of the biochemical composition of the blood. Problems with the gallbladder can be indicated by such signs as a simultaneous increase in the blood of bilirubin, cholesterol, ALT (alanine aminotransferase enzyme) and leukocytes (indicating an inflammatory process).
Factors that provoke thickening of bile
Now let's take a closer look at such a problem as thick bile in the gallbladder; treatment of this dangerous pathology should begin with identifying the cause of its appearance.
The gallbladder performs important functions. Thanks to its work, fats are broken down in the body, and food entering the stomach is digested and absorbed by the body.
Such functioning occurs only if the operation of the organ has not been disrupted due to specific reasons.
Stagnation of bile acid can be caused by:
- High cholesterol. Its presence is the result of poor nutrition. For example, cholesterol levels often increase in people who overeat fatty foods.
- Frequent fasting. When a person goes on a diet for a long time, his body does not receive the required amount of beneficial microelements and vitamins.
- The development of pancreatic or stomach disease.
- Hepatitis or other liver disease of infectious etiology.
- Psycho-emotional stress. When a person is under stress, there is a risk of spasm of the flow walls.
- Dehydration of the body. To prevent stagnation in the body, it is important not to violate the drinking regime.
- Long-term use of certain medications, including antibiotics. It is highly not recommended to prescribe medications on your own without a doctor’s recommendation.
- Sedentary lifestyle. Insufficient physical activity often leads to stagnation in the body.
- Alcohol abuse.
- The development of diseases of the endocrine system.
- Predisposition to obesity or excess weight.
- Failure in the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS).
- Intestinal obstruction. Spasm of the biliary tract can occur due to increased gas formation in the intestines, which leads to bloating.
- The development of pathological processes in the pelvic area.
- Low tone of the bladder walls.
- Excessive narrowness of the biliary tract. In this case, liver acid enters the stomach in insufficient quantities.
Reasons for inhomogeneous content
The reasons for the appearance of inhomogeneous content are the following:
- cholelithiasis;
- helminthic infestations;
- injuries;
- inflammatory process with the formation of pus;
- benign and malignant neoplasms.
For diagnosis, the following laboratory tests and examinations are carried out:
- general blood test with leukemia formula;
- blood biochemistry, liver tests (for jaundice);
- Ultrasound of the gallbladder, including with contrast;
- puncture, followed by microscopic examination of the contents.
Symptoms of pathology
Above we found out why congestion occurs in the gallbladder. The symptoms of this pathology are the same in almost all patients.
Patients suffering from cholestasis complain of:
- Periodically occurring hepatic colic.
- Nausea accompanied by vomiting. It is worth noting that vomiting, in this case, does not bring the desired relief.
- Severe bloating (flatulence).
- Belching.
- Labored breathing.
- Increased fatigue.
- Skin itching.
- Failure in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract (diarrhea).
- Swelling of the neck.
- Yellowing of the skin.
- Bitter taste in the mouth.
The most severe symptom of cholestasis is hepatic colic. She catches you suddenly. A person who encounters it loses the ability to think critically and focus attention on external objects. He needs care and treatment.
The nature of the pain that occurs with hepatic colic can be written as follows:
- Localization - right hypochondrium.
- The time of occurrence is morning.
- Distribution - throughout the abdomen.
- Increases after eating.
A person facing such an unpleasant phenomenon as cholestasis needs medical help. Without timely medical intervention, he may die.
How is pathology diagnosed?
A congested gallbladder negatively affects a person's quality of life. Those who experience this phenomenon completely lose their ability to work.
A physician treating a patient complaining of symptoms of cholestasis should evaluate the quality of his enzyme fluid.
For this purpose, palpation is performed. Its main purpose is to determine the exact location of discomfort.
In order to understand that the yellow acid has thickened, an ultrasound examination will be required. It will require preparation.
It is important that the patient does not eat anything 8 hours before the procedure. Otherwise, difficulties will arise in making a diagnosis.
Also, preparation before an ultrasound examination includes avoiding taking medications. The patient should not take any medications for medicinal purposes 10-12 hours before the procedure.
But ultrasound is not the only diagnostic procedure that will help the doctor determine the presence of cholestasis.
The patient will be asked to:
- General blood analysis.
- Blood chemistry.
- Stool analysis.
- MRI.
- CT.
After the doctor has all these tests on hand, he will prescribe the appropriate therapy to the patient.
Now let's talk about how to liquefy bile in the gallbladder.
A few recommendations
To avoid bile stagnation, the patient needs to follow several important recommendations:
- First of all, you need to think about carrying out tubage up to three times a year using mineral water.
- It is necessary to do therapeutic exercises. To eliminate the symptoms of dyskinesia, it is worth learning how to perform breathing exercises. They have a beneficial effect on the abdominal area.
- In order for the thickened bile to begin to drain better, you need to jog or swim freely.
- You should not do strength exercises. Excessive physical activity can lead the patient to a hospital bed.
- At home, you need to do light exercises every morning. It must be done before breakfast to awaken the gallbladder.
Treatment of pathology
The doctor must explain to the patient the structural features of his body so that he understands how bile enters the stomach and why it is needed.
Such a conversation will help the patient understand what threatens him with liver dysfunction caused by stagnation of yellow acid in the ducts.
Therapy for cholestasis is based on the following points:
- Correction of drinking regime.
- Compliance with the rules of a therapeutic diet.
- Regular intake of medications.
- Lifestyle correction.
It is possible to get rid of the symptoms of cholestasis only through complex medical therapy. Ignoring one of the above points will result in a lack of positive therapeutic effect.
Let's take a closer look at each of these points.
Drug therapy
It is important that medications are prescribed to the patient only by his attending physician. Remember that self-medication can end sadly.
To prevent complications of cholestasis, follow all doctor's instructions. Do not deviate from the medication schedule prescribed by your doctor.
There is no universal drug therapy for patients facing biliary tract problems.
It is selected by the doctor individually, based on factors such as the patient’s age, gender and severity of the disease.
One of the purposes of drug treatment is to relieve discomfort that occurs in the right hypochondrium (the location of the liver).
To relieve the patient from unbearable colic, doctors prescribe antispasmodics. The most popular medicine in this group is No-shpa.
The medication helps dilute bile and stimulates its flow into the stomach. It is advisable to take No-shpu for spastic pain in the stomach and the presence of congestion.
Other antispasmodic drugs:
- Riabal.
- Spasmalgon.
- Baralgin.
The body of many people gets used to such means. Therefore, if taking them does not bring the desired relief, it is recommended to take analgesics.
For example, you can take a tablet of Analgin, Ibuprofen, Nurofen or Kitanova.
All of the drugs described above have analgesic properties. But the tablet form of these medications is not suitable for everyone.
In cases of severe pain, it is advisable to give injections. Most of the above drugs are sold in pharmacies in the form of injections.
To achieve a quick pain-relieving effect, you can inject the patient with several medications at once. For example, 1 ampoule of analgin, No-shpa and Spazmalgon.
After such an injection, painful hepatic colic will subside within 15-20 minutes.
You should not expect that discomfort in the right hypochondrium will go away on its own. The stagnant phenomena that provoke its occurrence will not disappear without appropriate treatment.
So, the pain attack was stopped. What to do now? When hepatic colic subsides, the patient may not experience other symptoms such as belching or diarrhea. But this does not mean that he does not need treatment.
After relief of unpleasant symptoms, the patient should take choleretic medications. The main purpose of this therapy is to get rid of yellow acid stagnation in the ducts.
Elimination of congestion is a guarantee of normalization of liver function.
Medicines that have the property of bile liquefaction help accelerate its outflow, as well as the export of pathogenic microflora from the body.
One of these medications is Ukrliv. The recommended course of taking it is 1-3 months. The duration of therapy depends on the stage of cholestasis.
You can also liquefy yellow acid using the tubage procedure. Its main purpose is to clean out stagnant yellow liquid from the ducts. The medicinal effect of tubage is achieved thanks to sorbitol or olive oil.
When congestion in the body has been eliminated, it is recommended to take hepatoprotectors. What is this?
Hepatoprotectors are drugs used to maintain the consistency of the yellow liquid.
The use of hepatoprotectors for medicinal purposes also makes it possible to break down cholesterol plaques and activate the functioning of hepatocyte cells.
Compliance with the rules of a therapeutic diet
Without this point, one cannot count on successful relief of the symptoms of cholestasis. Not only the speed of recovery, but also the risk of relapse depends on nutritional correction.
Those who adhered to medical recommendations regarding food intake reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease.
The therapeutic diet for congestion should be aimed at reducing viscosity. What should the patient's food be like?
- Low calorie.
- Quickly digestible, easy.
- Well digestible by the stomach.
- Balanced.
- Natural, free of preservatives and sweeteners.
- Plant origin.
If a person is faced with a bile problem, then he is contraindicated from eating heavy food, the digestion and assimilation of which will require the body to spend a lot of effort.
Beans, fatty meats, i.e. pork, fatty dairy products, cabbage, radishes and baked goods should be excluded from the diet.
All these products are difficult for the stomach to digest. The body spends a lot of time digesting them.
Important rule! While following a therapeutic diet, you will have to give up smoking and drinking alcohol. As for sparkling water, it is also prohibited.
These are the basic rules of a therapeutic diet, however, in some cases, additional “nutritional” restrictions are imposed on the patient.
For example, if the results of his tests showed high bile acidity, then acidic berries and vegetables are excluded from the diet.
For example, pomegranate, currants, apples, grapes and cranberries. Eating these fruits and berries will cause a deterioration in your health.
If the patient's muscles are not toned, doctors recommend that he eat eggs and low-fat dairy products, such as cottage cheese and sour cream, daily.
What is allowed to eat with cholestasis?
- Pasta.
- Vegetable and cereal soups.
- Dairy and vegetable sauces.
- Lean meat, such as chicken or beef.
- Marmalade, honey and sugar.
- Fish.
- Eggs.
- Fruit jelly and compotes.
As for drinks, to prevent dehydration, a person who has problems with the biliary tract should drink mineral water daily.
Important! The daily norm of drinking water for an adult is 1.5 liters. The importance of water for the human body is difficult to overestimate. It promotes the metabolism and export of pathogenic flora from the body.
In addition to mineral water, the patient is recommended to drink fruit juice or nectar, black or green tea, kefir or compote.
To liquefy bile, you need to adjust your diet so that it contains:
- Carrot.
- Olives.
- Oat bran.
- Avocado.
- Cereal porridge.
- Celery.
- Dill.
- Spinach.
- Corn oil.
It is also advisable to consume foods that have a choleretic effect. Among them are grapes, oranges, lemons, watermelon, spinach, turmeric, melon, grapes, rhubarb, and beets.
Remember that only a qualified specialist can make adjustments to your therapeutic diet. Doing this yourself is highly not recommended.
Stagnation in the body requires medical attention. They cannot be ignored, otherwise complications will not be avoided.
Additional recommendations include:
- Exercise daily. First of all, this applies to people leading a sedentary lifestyle. Moderate physical activity is very beneficial. Sport is the best and simplest prevention of congestion.
- Remember the importance of getting enough sleep. For normal functioning, a person must sleep at least 8 hours a day. Prolonged sleep helps improve the viscosity of bile, as well as its outflow from the bile ducts.
- Go for a massage. With the help of manual therapy, you can quickly achieve the desired results. A good massage stimulates the flow of bile.
Traditional methods of diluting bile
A person experiencing cholestasis does not necessarily have to go to the pharmacy for an expensive medication. He can help himself at home.
For people suffering from bile problems, traditional healers recommend herbal medicine. The right combination of medicinal plants will not only eliminate congestion, but also prevent the risk of stones forming in the gall bladder.
Mint, yarrow, immortelle and calendula have a diluting effect on yellow acid. Olive oil and pumpkin juice have similar properties.
To achieve the maximum therapeutic effect, it is recommended to combine several traditional methods of combating cholestasis. For example, drink herbal tea and beetroot juice daily.
Authorized Products
In addition to following a diet and taking medications, you can also use folk remedies to treat bile thickening. Thus, some herbs can completely change the motor activity of the gallbladder and ducts, as well as dilute bile clots.
Treatment of pathology includes the use of 3 groups of drugs: synthetic choleretics, herbal remedies and hydrocholeretics. Category 1 medications are highly effective choleretic drugs that stimulate the secretory functions of the liver. The action of these drugs is aimed at increasing the peristalsis of the gallbladder and the rapid removal of congestion.
Traditional treatment of congestion is carried out through oil therapy. This technique is distinguished by its combination of high efficiency, the most gentle effect on the internal environment, and consists of taking 1 tbsp daily in the morning. l. vegetable oil on an empty stomach. The following types of oils that can dilute bile are often used: olive, corn, avocado, etc.
Another method of therapy is to consume vegetable juices and drinks. Cabbage, lingonberry, and grape juice are most often used to treat pathology.
Beetroot broth quickly eliminates unpleasant symptoms. To prepare it, you need to boil the root vegetable in 3 liters of water until about 2 liters of liquid boils away.
The prepared vegetable is peeled, grated, placed in the remaining broth and boiled for about 20 minutes. The strained and cooled drink is taken 1 glass 3 times a day.
To prepare the herbal remedy, pour 1 tbsp of boiling water into a glass. l. oregano and leave overnight. The strained drink is taken in 2 approaches during the day. Taking this drug eliminates the causes of pathology and has a stimulating effect on metabolic processes in the body.
According to another recipe, put 1 liter of water on low heat, add 2 tbsp. l. St. John's wort and boil for several minutes. The cooled and strained drink is taken before each meal, 0.5 cups.
You should not take them on your own, so you should consult a doctor. After making a diagnosis using ultrasound and a blood test for parasites, the doctor prescribes medications.
How to get rid of bile stagnation at home? If the patient is sure that he does not have serious diseases and the presence of stones in the gall bladder and ducts, then you can try to disperse the bile with folk remedies. What herbs thin bile?
If the patient wants to eliminate the thickness and stagnation of bile, then foods that increase its outflow should be included in the diet.
Vegetable fats have an excellent choleretic effect. These include olive, sunflower and corn oil. They can be consumed both raw and as a salad dressing.
There are also products that not only have a choleretic effect, but also prevent the formation of stones. These include bran, celery, spinach, cabbage, tomatoes and carrots.
- Extractive dishes (broths), spicy vegetables and herbs with a high content of essential oils: horseradish, parsnips, celery, onions, garlic, shallots, katran, oregano, marjoram, savory, rosemary, basil, radishes, turnips, radish.
- Fatty meat and fish, goose and duck meat, smoked meats, fish caviar, salted fish, refractory fats and lard, sausages, all types of canned food.
- By-products (internal organs of animals due to their high cholesterol content).
- Hard-boiled and fried eggs, which are difficult to digest.
- Fresh bread, pastry, fried pastries (pies, pancakes, pancakes), cakes, pastries, puff pastry.
- Whole fat milk and cream.
- Hot sauces.
- Carbonated and alcoholic drinks, coffee, chocolate, cocoa.
Table of prohibited products
In addition to medications, remedies offered by traditional medicine (your grandmother also drank them) are also used to treat this disease. As a rule, the composition of such products, which you can prepare yourself according to the instructions attached to them, includes:
- sagebrush;
- birch buds;
- calamus roots;
- burdock roots;
- leaves of the field artichoke plant;
- corn silk;
- orthosiphon leaves;
- rowan berries and so on.
Choleretic juices
There are many methods to liquefy bile in the gallbladder. Tablets and drops are the most popular of them. All choleretic drugs are divided into the following groups:
- medications that reduce the risk of gallstone formation;
- drugs that increase the concentration of acids (choleretics);
- medications that relieve spasms (cholespasmolytics);
- means that tone the gallbladder, due to which the level of bile is normalized (cholekinetics);
- medications that reduce the risk of gallstone formation.
Many plants can help as choleretic drugs:
- rowan berries;
- sagebrush;
- orthosiphon leaves;
- birch buds;
- corn silk;
- calamus roots;
- burdock roots.
It is not recommended to eat fresh bread and other baked goods. It is better to eat a piece of toasted white bread with soup. It’s better to completely remove rye from the menu.
The diet imposes many restrictions, but there are foods that promote the outflow of bile:
- Vegetable oils affect the motility of bile drainage: olive, flaxseed, avocado oil;
- Wheat, barley, and corn bran can be consumed in the form of porridge or brewed in a thermos overnight. And in the morning, drink liquid and eat a couple of tablespoons of steamed bran;
- Light vegetable broths stimulate the movement of bile and prevent its thickening;
- Freshly squeezed juices and smoothies of vegetables, herbs, and fruits are useful in single-component and multi-component compositions. In vitamin cocktails you can combine broccoli, celery, beets with prunes, citrus fruits, carrots;
- Chicory can be beneficial and become an alternative to forbidden coffee.
When following a diet, great attention should be paid to a balanced diet. Biologically active substances in healthy products can also have a negative effect if the dose is exceeded. Therefore, it is necessary to consume all foods in moderation, but quite regularly.
Preventive measures
Remember that congestion in the body is a pathology that needs to be given special attention. It is much easier to prevent any disease than to cure it.
Therefore, it is recommended to take the following preventive measures:
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
- Proper nutrition based on moderation and avoidance of fast food and other junk food.
- Avoiding stressful situations.
- A rational approach to taking medications.
If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, are often stressed and overeat junk food, then know: you are at risk.
A change in the concentration of yellow liquid is a dangerous pathology that occurs in people of different ages and nationalities.
It is important to seek medical help in a timely manner, otherwise complications will not be avoided.
