What symptoms can gallstones cause?

Gallstones can cause a variety of symptoms, mainly abdominal pain, indigestion and jaundice, the severity of these symptoms varies depending on the size and location of the stone. Gallstones are like a piece of sand in the body, and when they get into the gallbladder or bile duct, they can cause varying degrees of discomfort.

The gallbladder is an important organ that stores bile and is closely related to the digestive system. Bile helps digest and absorb fat, and gallstones are small crystals formed by abnormal concentration of bile components. These stones, like small stones, block the bile duct or the neck of the gallbladder, which may prevent bile from flowing normally.

Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of gallstones. It usually manifests as severe cramping in the right upper abdomen or epigastrium. The pain may radiate to the back or right shoulder blade. It often occurs a few hours after eating a greasy meal. This pain is called biliary colic in the medical field. In addition, some people may feel bloating, acid reflux, and even nausea and vomiting. In some cases, if the stones cause a bile duct infection, chills and fever will occur. When the stones block the bile duct, it can also cause jaundice, which turns the skin and whites of the eyes yellow.

If you experience these symptoms, especially severe abdominal pain or jaundice, you should contact your doctor immediately for further testing and treatment. To reduce the frequency and severity of gallstone attacks, it is recommended to maintain a healthy diet, avoid high-fat and high-cholesterol foods, consume more dietary fiber, and maintain moderate exercise. If you find that you have a history of gallstones, you can recommend regular checkups to monitor the dynamic changes of gallstones.