The gallbladder is a small organ located to the right of your liver. Its primary role is to collect and concentrate the digestive juice bile that is made by your liver. However, your gallbladder is not an essential organ, and your body can function normally without it.
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Normally your immune system protects you from disease. But if you have an autoimmune disorder, your body's immune system attacks your healthy organs and tissues thinking that they are invaders. Gluten intolerance is an autoimmune disorder that affects your digestive tract.
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Your pancreas secretes enzymes into the small intestines to help you digest food, it also secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon into your bloodstream to help you regulate blood sugar. Chronic pancreatitis is a prolonged inflammation of the pancreas.
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A G-tube, or gastric tube, is a surgically placed tube that goes through the skin of your abdomen directly into your stomach to provide nutrition support. It is meant for people who cannot eat or get enough nutrition by mouth.
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If you have high cholesterol, you're not alone. Seventy-one million people in the United States have high cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and only one-third of those with high cholesterol have it under control.
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Haloacetic acids are chemical compounds that contain chlorine and bromine. They are formed through the disinfection process of drinking water. Drinking water contaminated with haloacetic acids may cause irritation to your eyes and skin and increase your risk of cancer.
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A bowel obstruction is the partial or complete blockage of areas of the small intestines, preventing food and digestive liquid from moving through. A bowel obstruction is caused by either something being in the way or because the intestinal muscles are not functioning properly, according to MedlinePlus.com.
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The American Heart Association defines an anticoagulant as a medication that prevents blood from clotting. Anticoagulants are given to people who are at risk for blood clots, people with artificial heart valves, and people with atrial fibrillation. Common anticoagulants include Coumadin and heparin.
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If you're carrying extra weight and not getting sufficient exercise, you may be at risk of insulin resistance, which is when your body does not effectively use the insulin it produces.
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Low blood sugar during the night can be a concern for people with diabetes, especially those on insulin. A 2003 study published in "Diabetes Care" investigated the impact of snack composition on nightly blood sugars in adults with Type 1 diabetes.
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Congestive heart failure effects about 5 million people in the United States and is responsible for more than 300,000 deaths annually, according to the website MedlinePlus.
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Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a digestive disorder that affects about 20 percent of adults in the United States, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.
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While certain groups are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, such as the elderly and those of African American descent, it can effect anyone at any age.
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If you want your liver to function at its best, you need to feed it the right foods. While lemon juice by itself will not enhance liver function, when part of an overall healthy diet, it can help. Talk to your doctor to discuss which foods are best for you, your health and the health of your liver.
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You may be fearful of drinking seltzer water because you heard it is bad for your health. Negative ideas about seltzer include the fact that it may irritate your stomach, erode the enamel on your teeth and cause osteoporosis. But seltzer water isn't much different from regular water.
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Taro has been a staple of the Polynesian diet for over one thousand years. The heart-shaped leaves, called lu'au, were the inspiration for the Hawaiian celebration of the same name. You cannot eat taro in raw form because its high calcium oxalate content makes it toxic.
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Poor nutrition and weight loss increase the risk of illness and even death in HIV-infected people, according to an April 2003 article in "Clinical Infectious Diseases." Nutritional status may be compromised by complications of the disease, as well as the medications used to treat it.
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No matter what the cause, when you're feeling sick to your stomach, eating may be the furthest thing from your mind. If your doctor says it's alright to try to eat despite your difficulty holding down foods, there are some steps you can take to help increase your intake while decreasing your risk of dehydration.
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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can have a major impact on learning and socialization. Behavioral therapy and medication are the key modes of treatment, but people have been interested in the role of diet in ADHD for years.
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Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that only occurs during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes increases your risk of having a more complicated pregnancy; giving birth to a large baby that may require a cesarean section or giving birth to a baby with respiratory problems.
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