Gallstones: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
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What Are gallstones?
They are hardened deposits of digestive fluid within the gallbladder, a small organ under the liver. They can vary in size and number and may not cause symptoms.
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Causes Of gallstones
Too much cholesterol, bilirubin (chemical produced when liver destroys old red blood cells because of liver damage), and concentrated bile due to full gallbladder.
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Risk Factors
Being overweight or obese, eating a high fat and low fibre diet, rapid weight loss, family history of gallstones and diabetes mellitus are risk factors for gallstones.
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Signs of Gallstones
Gallstones cause pain in upper right abdomen. Eating foods high in fat can trigger the pain, which usually does not last for more than a few hours.
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Other Symptoms
Indigestion, diarrhoea, burping, stomach pain, clay-coloured stools, dark urine, vomiting and nausea are common symptoms of gallstones.
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asymptomatic Gallstones
Gallstones themselves don't cause pain. They cause pain when they block movement of bile from gallbladder. 80% people are asymptomatic and don't need treatment.
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Treatment
People who experience symptoms usually require gallbladder removal surgery. Gallstones that don't cause symptoms usually don't need treatment.
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Long-term effects
Results of a gallstone surgery are fairly positive. In most cases, stones don't return. Without surgery, stone can return, even if you have taken medications.
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Home remedies
Asymptomatic ones may be treated with lifestyle management. Maintain a healthy weight, avoid quick weight loss, eat anti-inflammatory foods and exercise regularly.
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Diet tips
Gallstones risk can be reduced by eating low-fat foods, eating more fibre, restricting intake of caffeine, eating small, frequent meals and drinking sufficient water.
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complications
Gallstones block the duct where bile moves from gallbladder, causing inflammation and infection in bladder. It causes cholecystitis, a medical emergency.
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Acute cholecystitis
It causes pain in upper stomach, fever, chills, appetite loss, nausea and vomiting. If symptoms last more than two hours and if you have a fever, visit the doctor.
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other risks
If left untreated, gallstones can cause jaundice, gallbladder infection, bile duct infection, sepsis and inflammation in pancreas.
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