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Gallbladder stones are common ailments that mostly affect individuals over 40. They could be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a golf ball. The prevalence of gallbladder stone formation among Indians is around 4% and is rising, especially in northern states like Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam. This rising incidence is attributed to westernisation and the availability of better diagnostics. These stones can develop when there is an imbalance in the substances that make up bile, such as cholesterol or bilirubin.
Gallstones are widespread, yet they seldom cause problems for most individuals. When these microscopic, pebble-like fragments sneak into small areas of your vulnerable biliary system, they can cause great harm, leading to severe pain. This condition, known as a gallstone attack or biliary colic, can cause sudden, intense pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, and vomiting. In some cases, gallstones can lead to complications like cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), pancreatitis, or jaundice. Treatment options vary depending on the severity of symptoms and may include medication, non-invasive procedures, or surgery to remove the gallbladder.
Gallbladder stones are small, hard particles that can develop in the gallbladder, a small organ below your liver. You can have one giant stone or hundreds of smaller ones. Some people obtain a mixture of large and small stones. You may not be aware that you have them until one or more obstructs a bile duct, producing pain.
Gallbladder stones can be classified into two main types:
Cholesterol stones: These are yellow-green in colour and are mostly composed of undissolved cholesterol.
Pigment stones: These are brown or black in colour, composed of bilirubin, and are often linked to liver disease or blood disorders like sickle cell anaemia or leukaemia.
You can have gallbladder stones without realising it. Symptoms normally appear when one or more gallstones obstruct bile flow from your gallbladder to your small intestine (where your food goes after leaving your stomach). This is known as a gallbladder attack or biliary colic.
Common symptoms of gallstones are:
Pain on the upper right side of your tummy, just beneath your ribs
Pain in the right shoulder, back, and lower chest
Nausea or vomiting
Other digestive disorders include indigestion, heartburn, and gas
Doctors don't know exactly what causes gallstones, although they may occur when:
Bile contains too much cholesterol: The body needs bile for digestion. It frequently dissolves cholesterol. However, if it cannot do so, excess cholesterol may accumulate and create stones.
Bile contains too much bilirubin: Conditions such as liver disease, infections, and blood abnormalities can cause your liver to produce excessive bilirubin.
Gallbladder doesn't empty completely: This can make your bile extremely concentrated.
The following are some factors that might raise your risk of gallstones:
Gallstones are more likely to form in females
Being inactive
Consuming a diet heavy in fat
Pregnancy
Consuming a diet high in cholesterol
Eating a diet low in fibre
Having gallstones in one's family history
Being diabetic
Having blood conditions like leukaemia or sickle cell anaemia
Rapid weight loss
Using oestrogen-containing pharmaceuticals, such as hormone treatment pills or oral contraceptives
Having a disease of the liver
Your doctor will do imaging and blood tests to determine if you have gallstones. Blood tests can identify which organs are damaged and provide information about inflammation, infection, or jaundice. Imaging tests can help identify the source of the obstruction in your biliary system.
An abdominal ultrasound, a quick and simple test that doesn't require any preparation, will be the first procedure your provider does. Most gallstones in and around your gallbladder may be found using an ultrasound. However, if the gallstone is lodged in another part of your biliary system, a different test could be required to locate it.
Other potential examinations consist of the following:
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, or MRCP
HIDA examination scan
Ultrasound endoscopy
Endocrine retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP
There are three ways to remove gallbladder stones:
Natural remedies: Gallbladder stones can be treated with some natural and home remedies at an initial stage.
Medical interventions: Because gallstone drugs aren't particularly successful, doctors don't usually prescribe them. Medications such as usidol and chenodiol are only useful for small cholesterol stones that have not yet caused issues. They frequently reappear, and their dissolution might take months or years.
For most people, this isn't a workable gallstone treatment option. However, there could be certain specific situations when taking medicine is beneficial as a stopgap or preventative measure. Your doctor will talk to you about their ideas if gallstone surgery is not a good option for you.
Surgery: The majority of patients who require treatment for gallstones will undergo surgery to remove the stones. This is the only way to guarantee that gallstones won't cause you problems in the future. Gallbladder Removal (Cholecystectomy) is the only effective, long-term solution for gallstones. It is one of the most common procedures carried out globally, usually as a laparoscopic surgery. You can live a normal life without a gallbladder because bile will now flow directly from your liver to your small intestine. On rare occasions, some patients who require treatment for gallstones aren't in a safe enough condition to undergo Gallbladder Removal surgery. In these situations, Cholecystostomy is one alternative. It is a minor procedure that inserts a catheter into your gallbladder to drain it and remove the gallstones that are currently inside.
Gallstone complications can include:
Ulcerative gallbladder disease: Gallbladder inflammation, or cholecystitis, can result from a gallstone being stuck in the gallbladder's neck. Severe pain and fever are possible symptoms of cholecystitis.
Blockage of the common bile canal: Gallstones can obstruct the tubes (ducts) that transfer bile from your liver or gallbladder to your small intestine.
There may be severe discomfort, jaundice, and bile duct infections.
Obstruction of the pancreatic duct: A pancreatic duct obstruction brought on by a gallstone may result in pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas. Hospitalisation is typically necessary for pancreatitis, which results in severe, ongoing abdominal discomfort.
Gallbladder cancer: Gallbladder cancer is still extremely low because it is a very rare disease.
Gallstone risk can be decreased if you:
Never miss a meal: Gallstones are more common in those who fast or skip meals.
Reduce your weight gradually: Take it gradually if you need to reduce weight. Gallstones are more common in those who lose weight quickly. Try to shed one or two pounds, or 0.5 to 1 kilogramme, per week.
Eat more meals high in fibre: Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other foods high in fibre.
Sustain a healthy weight: Gallstones are more likely to occur in those who are obese or overweight. Reduce the quantity of calories you consume and increase your physical activity levels to work towards a healthy weight.
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