What are the three major misunderstandings in the treatment of gallstones?

The three major misunderstandings in the treatment of gallstones include over-reliance on drugs to dissolve the stones, blindly waiting for the stones to be discharged naturally, and neglecting lifestyle adjustments. These mistakes may delay the disease and cause more serious health problems.

Over-reliance on drugs to dissolve stones is one of the common misunderstandings. Some patients hope that taking lithotripsy drugs can cure gallstones, but in fact, drugs are only effective for smaller stones with special components (such as cholesterol type), and the treatment cycle is long, and the recurrence rate after stopping the drug is high. If the stone is large or accompanied by impaired gallbladder function, it is often difficult to completely solve the problem with drugs alone. Blindly waiting for the stones to be discharged naturally also has a great risk. Unlike kidney stones, gallstones cannot be discharged through the body's natural metabolism. Many people delay treatment, which may cause stones to block the bile duct, causing serious complications such as acute cholecystitis and even pancreatitis. Ignoring diet and lifestyle adjustments is another misunderstanding. Many patients think that everything will be fine after surgery or drug treatment, but they ignore the fact that the high-fat and high-cholesterol composition of the diet is directly related to the formation of gallstones, and long-term inattention will also lead to stone recurrence.

Over-reliance on drugs to dissolve stones is one of the common misunderstandings. Some patients hope that taking lithotripsy drugs can cure gallstones, but in fact, drugs are only effective for smaller stones with special components (such as cholesterol type), and the treatment cycle is long, and the recurrence rate after stopping the drug is high. If the stone is large or accompanied by impaired gallbladder function, it is often difficult to completely solve the problem with drugs alone. Blindly waiting for the stones to be discharged naturally also has a great risk. Unlike kidney stones, gallstones cannot be discharged through the body's natural metabolism. Many people delay treatment, which may cause stones to block the bile duct, causing serious complications such as acute cholecystitis and even pancreatitis. Ignoring diet and lifestyle adjustments is another misunderstanding. Many patients think that everything will be fine after surgery or drug treatment, but they ignore the fact that the high-fat and high-cholesterol composition of the diet is directly related to the formation of gallstones, and long-term inattention will also lead to stone recurrence.

To avoid these misunderstandings, patients need to treat gallstones scientifically. If the stones are small and asymptomatic, you can choose drug treatment under the guidance of a doctor and closely observe changes in the condition; for medium and large stones with complications or severe symptoms, timely surgical treatment is recommended, such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, endoscopic retrograde pancreaticocholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or choledochoscopy lithotripsy, etc., which are not only safe but also recover quickly. Pay special attention to a low-fat diet, consume more vegetables and fruits, avoid overeating, and insist on moderate exercise to regulate your weight. These habits help reduce the risk of recurrence of gallstones. Once symptoms such as persistent pain in the right upper abdomen, fever or jaundice occur, seek medical attention immediately to avoid delaying treatment.