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3.5 Minute

15-07-2024 Team Medicover Neurology

Gallbladder Stones: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Gallstones are commonly located within the gallbladder and may be surrounded by vessels, connective tissue, and lymphatics. While they vary in size and composition, gallstones do not possess distinct regions like the gallbladder itself.

The gallbladder terminates in the cystic duct, which connects it to the extrahepatic biliary tree.

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What are Gallbladder Stones Symptoms?

The following are the most common symptoms of gallbladder stones depending upon the gallstone pain area:

Upper abdominal pain
Nausea and Vomiting
Dizziness
Diarrhea
Bloating
Gas
Pain or tenderness under the rib cage on the right side
Pain between shoulder blades
Dark-coloured pee and light-coloured poop.
Fatty stools
Indigestion after eating, especially the fatty foods
Burping or belching
The feeling of fullness or food not digesting
Constipation or frequent use of laxatives
Headache over eyes, especially right
Bitter fluid comes up after eating

What Causes of Gallbladder Stones?

The following are the most common causes of gallbladder stones depending on the gallstone pain area:

Age

Gallbladder stone disease is rare before age 20, except in cases of chronic predisposing conditions like cystic fibrosis or hemolytic anemia.

Drug

Certain medications, including ceftriaxone, clofibrate, oral contraceptives, estrogen replacement, progestogens, and octreotide, are linked to gallbladder stone formation due to their effects on bile secretion and composition.

Gender

Women have a higher prevalence of gallbladder stones than men, likely due to hormonal influences such as increased estrogen levels promoting cholesterol saturation in bile.

Geography and Ethnicity

Certain populations, such as Pima Indians, Micmac Indians, Hispanics, Mexican Americans, Norwegians, and Chileans, have higher rates of gallbladder stone disease.
Genetics have not been conclusively linked to gallbladder stone development.

Obesity

Obesity, especially in women, increases the risk of gallbladder stone disease due to factors like cholesterol hypersecretion and regional fat distribution.

Weight Loss

Rapid weight loss, mainly through very low-calorie diets or surgical procedures, can increase the risk of gallbladder stone formation due to cholesterol release from adipose tissue and reduced gallbladder contraction.

Diabetes

Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of gallstone disease, likely due to factors such as insulin resistance and altered bile composition.

High Cholesterol Diet

Consuming a diet high in cholesterol increases the risk of gallstone formation by promoting cholesterol saturation in bile.

How Diagnosis for Gallbladder Stones

Physical exams for gallstone-related symptoms may appear normal, but sometimes tenderness or a palpable gallbladder, along with Murphy's sign, can suggest acute cholecystitis.

Diagnostic Tests

Ultrasound:
- Ultrasound utilizes sound waves to detect gallstones in the gallbladder. It's noninvasive, painless, and doesn't involve radiation exposure.
X-Rays:
- X-rays are effective for detecting gallbladder stones, aiding accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
Oral Cholecystography: Involves swallowing dye pills to outline the gallbladder and stones on X-ray film. Risks include radiation exposure.
Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography(PTC): Dye injection through a catheter outlines bile ducts on X-rays, detecting stones. Complications include leaking or bleeding.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography(ERCP): Invasive procedure using an endoscope to view the digestive tract directly.

What is the Treatment for Gallbladder Stones?

Patients who are suffering from gallstones should be treated to avoid any emergency conditions.

Natural Treatment for Gallstones

If you are wondering how to dissolve gallstones naturally, follow these precious tips to cure gallstones by natural treatment.

Maintain a Healthy Body Weight
Avoid Rapid Weight Loss and Fad Diets
Follow an Anti-Inflammatory Diet that Supports Liver and Gallbladder Health
Be More Active
Reconsider Taking Birth Control Pills or Unnecessary Medications

Surgical Treatment for Gallstones

Gallstones will not go away on their own. If they start to cause other symptoms, the doctor may suggest removing the gallbladder stones.
This type of surgery is called a cholecystectomy. It’s one of the most common surgeries doctors perform.
About 80% of people who have gallstones will need surgery.

Gallstones Surgery

Doctors may remove the gallbladder in any one of the following ways: Open surgery or laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.

Open Surgery

In open surgery, the surgeon makes a 5 to 7-inch incision on the belly to remove the gallbladder.
This approach is necessary for patients with a bleeding disorder, severe gallbladder disease, or those who are overweight or in the last trimester of pregnancy.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Also known as keyhole surgery, this minimally invasive procedure involves making small incisions to insert a thin tube with a camera and special tools to remove the gallbladder.

Risk Factors for Gallbladder Stones?

Several factors make people more susceptible to developing gallstones, including their diet, age, gender, body composition, and genetics. Gallstones are most common in:

Women
Over 40 years people
Overweight or obese people

Other Risk Factors for Gallstones Include

Eating a poor diet
Losing weight too quickly (for example, fasting and going long periods without eating)
Pregnancy
High triglycerides
Diabetes
Lack of physical activity
Family history of gallstones
Low HDL (good) cholesterol

Dietary Guidelines for Gallbladder Health:

Foods To Be Taken	Foods To Be Avoided
Low-fat options	Fried foods like french fries and potato chips
High-fiber foods like brown rice and wholemeal bread	High-fat meats
Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains	High-fat dairy products
Caffeine-free drinks	Pizza
Low-sugar foods and drinks	Foods made with lard or butter
Less spicy foods	Creamy soups or sauces
Grapes, apples, berries, and fresh organic grape juice	Chicken or turkey skin

Common Side Effects of Gallbladder Removal

Mild pain
Gas and bloating, distension
Burping, belching
Feelings of fullness
Heartburn, often worse
Acid and bile reflux
Constipation
Diarrhea
Dumping syndrome
Weight gain

Conclusion

Understanding gallbladder stones involves recognizing symptoms, risk factors, and diagnostic methods. Treatment ranges from natural remedies to surgical options, emphasizing lifestyle changes for prevention and management. Understanding gallbladder stones involves recognizing symptoms, risk factors, and diagnostic methods. Treatment ranges from natural remedies to surgical options, emphasizing lifestyle changes for prevention and management.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Surgery is often the quickest way to treat gallstones. It involves removing the gallbladder, which stops the stones from coming back.

The best test to diagnose gallstones is the ultrasound. It is non-invasive and has no radiation risk. We also have other methods to diagnose gallstones.

Drinking water can help reduce the risk of gallstones. It helps dilute the bile in the gallbladder, which may prevent the formation of stones.

Besides people who are obese and females, especially those who have had children, those who are forty (40) or older also have an increased risk of gallstones.

Yes, it's rare, but sometimes gallstones can cause emergency problems. They might block the gallbladder duct, causing an infection called acute cholecystitis. This infection can be severe and lead to serious issues like gangrene. Gallstones can also block the common bile duct, which can cause jaundice.

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