What are the dangers of having gallstones?

Gallstones are a common biliary disease. If not treated in time, they may cause a variety of harms to the body, including biliary colic, cholecystitis, bile duct obstruction, jaundice, and even gallbladder cancer. They need to be taken seriously. Depending on the stage of the disease, treatment can be carried out through dietary adjustment, drug lithotripsy, minimally invasive surgery, etc., to relieve symptoms as soon as possible and prevent complications.

1. Biliary colic: the most common acute symptom

Gallstones can easily cause biliary colic, which is because the stones move in the gallbladder or bile duct, irritating or blocking the bile duct, resulting in bile not flowing smoothly. Patients usually feel sudden right upper abdominal pain, which may radiate to the right shoulder and back, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting and other symptoms.

Solution:

-Analgesics such as butorphanol or racemic anisodamine can be taken orally for short-term pain relief, but they are not a permanent solution.

-If pain occurs frequently, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to have an ultrasound examination of the biliary system to determine whether the stones require further intervention.

2. Cholecystitis: Repeated inflammation may become chronic

When gallstones continue to irritate the gallbladder wall or cause bile retention, cholecystitis can occur. Acute cholecystitis is often accompanied by fever and persistent pain in the right upper abdomen. In severe cases, gallbladder abscesses may form and even perforation may occur. Untreated acute cholecystitis can develop into chronic cholecystitis if it recurs, further causing a gradual decline in gallbladder function.

Treatment recommendations:

- Anti-infective treatment is usually required during the acute phase, such as intravenous cephalosporin antibiotics to control inflammation.

-If the infection is severe or the gallbladder function is severely impaired, most patients may need to choose laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Minimally invasive surgery is currently a recognized treatment method with rapid postoperative recovery and good prognosis.

3. Bile duct obstruction and infection: potentially life-threatening

If stones enter the common bile duct and cause obstruction, the outflow of bile will be blocked, causing jaundice. Patients with bile duct obstruction often show yellowing of the skin and sclera, darker urine, and long-term untreated conditions may lead to severe bile duct infection (acute cholangitis). Acute cholangitis may develop into the "Charcot triad", which is abdominal pain, jaundice, and high fever. If these symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately.

Treatment measures:

-Bile duct obstruction usually requires ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) to remove the stone and restore circulation.

-If bile duct inflammation cannot be controlled, T-tube drainage or partial bile duct resection may be required to relieve biliary crisis.

4. Hidden dangers of long-term untreated: increased risk of gallbladder cancer

Although the incidence of gallbladder cancer is low, long-term presence of gallstones is significantly associated with the onset of gallbladder cancer. Especially in patients with large or multiple gallstones, the gallbladder is in a chronic inflammatory environment for a long time, and cells may become cancerous, leading to an increased risk of gallbladder cancer.

Prevention strategies:

- For gallstones without obvious symptoms, regular physical examinations should be conducted, especially for people over 40 years old or with a family history of gallstones.

- For patients with recurrent or symptomatic stones, it is best to perform cholecystectomy as early as possible to reduce the risk.

5. Impact of improper diet or high-risk population

Studies have shown that a high-cholesterol, high-calorie diet may contribute to the development of gallstones, so dietary habits are particularly important in the management of the disease. People who are obese, losing weight rapidly, have diabetes, or are female (especially pregnant women) are more likely to develop gallstones.

Care recommendations:

- Reduce the intake of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods and eat more foods rich in dietary fiber such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

-Increasing regular moderate-intensity exercise can help control weight and prevent stone recurrence.

The harm of gallstones cannot be underestimated. From mild to severe cases, it may cause a variety of health risks. Once diagnosed, appropriate treatment methods should be selected in combination with professional doctor's advice. While solving the problem through surgery and drug treatment, it is also necessary to adjust the lifestyle to avoid recurrence of the disease. Caring for your body, timely examination and treatment are important to avoid complications. I hope that every patient can recover health through scientific methods and live a painless and happy life.