Is it true that young people are useless if they have gallstones?

Young people will not be "disabled" if they have gallstones. In most cases, they can return to normal life through proper treatment and lifestyle adjustments. If the symptoms are severe or not treated for a long time, complications may occur and affect health.

Gallstones are deposits of cholesterol, bile salts, and calcium salts in the gallbladder. Gallstones in young people may be related to the following reasons: genetic factors increase the probability of disease, especially those with a family history of gallstones; long-term high-fat and high-sugar diet habits can cause imbalances in cholesterol metabolism, leading to stone formation; obesity or extreme weight loss can reduce the gallbladder's emptying function and may also induce lesions; long-term sitting and lack of exercise can affect bile flow; the use of certain drugs or pathological hepatobiliary diseases are also key causes. If the gallstones are small or there are no obvious symptoms, no special treatment may be required, but if severe pain in the right upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, etc. occur, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

The method of treating gallstones depends on the size and number of stones and the severity of symptoms. Conservative treatment includes improving metabolism by adjusting diet and exercising appropriately. It is recommended to reduce high-cholesterol foods, such as fatty meats and fried foods, and eat more fiber-rich vegetables and fruits, such as apples and carrots. Medical lithotripsy uses oral ursodeoxycholic acid to slowly dissolve gallbladder stones. It is suitable for cases where the stones are small and function well. Surgical treatment is a radical method, which commonly includes minimally invasive laparoscopic cholecystectomy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with gallbladder preservation, or non-surgical methods such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy to break down larger stones.

It is not terrible for young people to have gallstones. The key is early diagnosis and early treatment. It is particularly important to maintain a good lifestyle, including regular meals, quitting smoking and drinking, and increasing the frequency of exercise to help promote the stability of gallbladder function. If you experience repeated abdominal pain or indigestion, you should seek medical attention in time. Adjusting your attitude, taking effective measures, and actively cooperating with treatment can effectively control the impact of stones on your life. Health management is inseparable from self-care, and it is particularly important to look at the condition correctly.