Acupuncture and Gallbladder pain: Who is likely to get Gallstones and Who is at risk?

Acupuncture doctors recognise that gallstones or cholelithiasis is a common health problem worldwide with an approximate incidence of 1 out of 1,000 people. The prevalence is greater in women and people over the age of 40 years.

As we become more obese and as we consume more junk food, this problem is likely to increase.

In the past, doctors used to refer to the following guide to determine risk groups. This guide is still reliable.

• Fat (obesity related)
• Female
• Forty years of age
• Fertile (or pregnant)--oral contraceptives can increase the incidence of gall stones
• Fair-skinned

In general, the risks include:

• increasing age
• ethnic and hereditary factors
• female gender
• obesity
• diabetes
• liver cirrhosis
• long-term intravenous nutrition (total parenteral nutrition) and
• after certain types of operations for peptic ulcers (ileal, especially the terminal ileum, resection or disease).