What are the dangers of having gallstones?

Gallstones can cause a variety of health hazards and require prompt attention and treatment. Gallstones often cause severe abdominal pain, especially in the right upper abdomen, and can lead to indigestion and jaundice. If gallstones are not detected and treated promptly, they may cause more serious damage to the gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas, and even cause complications such as cholecystitis, cholangitis, or acute pancreatitis. These conditions can seriously affect the patient's quality of life and may lead to more serious health problems.

Abdominal pain from gallstones is usually gallbladder colic due to gallstones blocking the bile duct. This pain may radiate to the back and shoulders and can last from a few minutes to a few hours. Gallstones may also affect the normal flow of bile, which can cause digestive system symptoms such as indigestion, loss of appetite and nausea. Jaundice is caused by bilirubin entering the blood due to bile duct obstruction, which causes the skin and eyes to turn yellow. The long-term pressure on the gallbladder caused by the presence of gallstones may cause a gallbladder infection, namely cholecystitis, which is manifested by fever, chills and persistent pain in the right upper abdomen. If the stones migrate to the common bile duct, cholangitis may occur, which is manifested by Charcot's triad: right upper abdominal pain, jaundice and fever, and in severe cases, sepsis.

Abdominal pain from gallstones is usually gallbladder colic due to gallstones blocking the bile duct. This pain may radiate to the back and shoulders and can last from a few minutes to a few hours. Gallstones may also affect the normal flow of bile, which can cause digestive system symptoms such as indigestion, loss of appetite and nausea. Jaundice is caused by bilirubin entering the blood due to bile duct obstruction, which causes the skin and eyes to turn yellow. The long-term pressure on the gallbladder caused by the presence of gallstones may cause a gallbladder infection, namely cholecystitis, which is manifested by fever, chills and persistent pain in the right upper abdomen. If the stones migrate to the common bile duct, cholangitis may occur, which is manifested by Charcot's triad: right upper abdominal pain, jaundice and fever, and in severe cases, sepsis.

Once gallstones are suspected or confirmed, prompt physician evaluation and appropriate treatment arrangements are very important. For asymptomatic gallstones, monitoring and regular examinations are usually recommended; if symptoms are significant, medical lithotripsy, cholecystectomy, or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy may be recommended by the doctor. In daily life, measures to prevent further stone formation include a low-fat diet, moderate exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight. Increasing dietary fiber intake can also help prevent the formation of gallstones and reduce the deposition of bile cholesterol. Patients who have the conditions should routinely check the health of their gallbladders and consult a professional doctor at any time to develop appropriate treatment and prevention plans.