Gallstones are deposits of digestive fluid that have solidified and can develop in the gallbladder. Just below your liver on the right side of your abdomen is your gallbladder, a little, pear-shaped organ. Bile, a digestive fluid stored in the gallbladder, is discharged into your small intestine.
Gallstones can be as big as a golf ball or as little as a grain of sand. While some people only have one gallstone, others may experience multiple gallstones at once.
Gallbladder removal surgery is typically necessary for people who have gallstone problems. Usually, gallstones don’t need to be treated if they don’t produce any symptoms or indicators.
Symptoms
Gallstones may not show any symptoms at all. The following indications and symptoms could appear as a result of a gallstone blocking a duct:
- Upper right abdominal region pain that develops suddenly and quickly
- Immediately below your breastbone, in the middle of your abdomen, there is a sharp, swiftly escalating pain.
- Between your shoulder blades, back ache
- Your right shoulder hurts
- Nausea or diarrhoea
- Pain from gallstones might continue for a few minutes to several hours.
Causes
The exact reason gallstones form is unknown. Gallstones, according to doctors, may develop when:
There is too much cholesterol in your bile. Normally, the molecules in your bile are sufficient to break down the cholesterol your liver excretes. However, if your liver excretes more cholesterol than your bile can break down, it may crystallise and eventually turn into stones.
There is too much bilirubin in your bile. The chemical bilirubin is created when your body destroys red blood cells. Your liver produces too much bilirubin under some circumstances, such as liver cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, and specific blood diseases. Gallstone development is influenced by the excess bilirubin.
Your gallbladder does not properly drain. Bile may become extremely concentrated if your gallbladder doesn’t drain fully or frequently enough, which can lead to the development of gallstones.
Various gallstone types
The following types of gallstones can develop in the gallbladder:
Stones made of cholesterol. A cholesterol gallstone, the most typical form of gallstone, is frequently yellow in colour. These gallstones are primarily made of undissolved cholesterol, though they could also include other substances.
Colour gallstones. When your bile has an excessive amount of bilirubin, these dark brown or black stones might develop.
Complications
Gallstone complications could result in:
Gallbladder inflammation. Cholecystitis, or gallbladder inflammation, can be brought on by a gallstone that lodges in the gallbladder’s neck. Cholecystitis can result in fever and excruciating pain.
A typical bile duct blockage. Gallstones can obstruct the ducts that carry bile from your liver or gallbladder to your small intestine. Bile duct infection, severe pain, and jaundice are possible outcomes.
A pancreatic duct blockage. The common bile duct and the pancreatic duct are connected by a tube that leaves the pancreas and travels to the duodenum. The pancreatic duct is where the digestive pancreatic fluids travel.
A gallstone can obstruct the pancreatic duct, which can result in pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas. In most cases, pancreatitis necessitates hospitalisation because it produces severe, ongoing stomach pain.
Bladder cancer. Gallbladder cancer is more likely to develop in those who have had gallstones in the past. However, even if the danger of developing cancer is higher, there is still a very little chance that you’ll develop gallbladder cancer.
Prevention
Gallstones are less likely to develop if you:
Avoid skipping meals. Try to eat at the same times every day. Fasting or skipping meals both raise the risk of gallstones.
Slowly lose weight. Go slowly if you need to lose weight. Gallstone risk can rise with rapid weight loss. Aim for weekly weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogramme).
Eat more foods high in fibre. Increase your intake of fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Keep a healthy weight. Gallstones are more likely to form in people who are overweight and obese. By consuming less calories and engaging in more exercise, you can work towards achieving a healthy weight. Once you reach a healthy weight, attempt to keep it off by sticking to a balanced diet and exercising regularly.
