Is gallstone dangerous?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Vu Van Quan - Department of General Surgery & Anesthesia, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
Is gallstone dangerous ? Perhaps this is a concern for those of you who have gallstones or know that you are at risk for them. If you are still confused, the following article will give you the answer to the above question and more.

1. Causes of Gallstones

Causes of gallstones can include:
Fasting: Your gallbladder may not secrete as it should Rapid weight loss: Your liver makes extra cholesterol, which can lead to gallstones. High cholesterol Obesity: This is one of the biggest risk factors. Obesity can increase cholesterol levels and make it difficult to empty the gallbladder. You take birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms, or are pregnant. It can raise cholesterol and increase the risk of cholestasis in the gallbladder. Chronic disease: eg diabetes these people have higher triglyceride levels-high risk of gallstones. Pregnancy Multiple pregnancies Hemolytic blood problems (blood diseases that lead to anemia) Genetics

2. Manifestations of gallstones

Gallstones are stones that form in the gallbladder or biliary tract, causing symptoms for patients such as:
Severe and continuous pain lasting from 30 minutes to several hours. The pain often occurs in the right abdomen or epigastrium. The disease often hurts a lot after eating or at night, making it difficult for patients to sleep. Gallstones will cause many dangerous complications if the disease is prolonged such as: cholecystitis, biliary obstruction. , gallbladder cancer ... Therefore, early detection and treatment are very important for patients.

3. Are gallstones dangerous?

Gallstones are very common. About 20% of the population will develop gallstones in their lifetime. However, only 20-30 percent develop symptoms. However, if the danger of gallstones is not timely, there is a risk of developing into the following dangerous complications:

Jaundice, yellow eyes Cholecystitis, gallbladder infection Cholangitis, biliary tract infection Sepsis, blood infection Pancreatitis Gallbladder cancer Acute cholecystitis: When gallstones block the bile ducts from the gallbladder , it can cause inflammation and infection in the gallbladder. This is called acute cholecystitis. This is a medical emergency. The risk of developing acute cholecystitis from symptomatic gallstones is 1 to 3%. Symptoms associated with acute cholecystitis include:
Severe pain in the upper right abdomen or middle back Fever Chills Loss of appetite Nausea and vomiting

4. Gallstones as dangerous as you think?

4.1 With a small number of gallstones

Some gallstones are small, leaving the gallbladder and do not block the bile ducts, do not get stuck in the small intestine and are excreted in the stool. To avoid large stones you should change your lifestyle such as:
Maintain a healthy weight. Avoid rapid weight loss. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet (e.g. turmeric) Exercise regularly. Take supplements as advised by your doctor. Vitamin C and lecithin are two supplements that you should take to get rid of gallstones.

4.2 In case of bile duct obstruction

Here are medical options for blocked bile ducts you can consider:
Surgery: The doctor can remove the gallbladder laparoscopically

Non-surgical treatments: If you can't have surgery, you may be able to take prescribed medications to dissolve cholesterol-induced gallstones. Shockwaves are another option. A Lithotripter is a machine that generates shock waves that pass through a person. These shock waves can break gallstones into smaller pieces.

5. Foods to avoid to prevent gallstones

People with gallstones need to follow the doctor's instructions as well as have a reasonable lifestyle such as:
Eat a lot of fiber-rich foods to help stimulate digestion, accelerate metabolism and elimination. Cholesterol Supplement enough vitamins, especially vitamin A from fruits such as apples, grapefruits, watermelons... Drinking lots of water helps the body eliminate toxins in the body Regularly exercise and live in moderation And should be limited:
Eat foods that are easy to form stones, high in calcium such as eggs, milk... Foods high in protein and fat increase cholesterol Limit spices that irritate the digestive tract such as sour, Salty... Gallstones are common and commonly acquired diseases, but not everyone can recognize and treat them. Do not hesitate to go to the doctor if you have signs of gallstones for the earliest advice and treatment. If you have a need for consultation and examination at hospitals of the national health system, please book an appointment on the website for service.

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