What are the effects of gallstones on your health?

Gallstones may cause severe abdominal pain, indigestion and other symptoms, and in severe cases may even lead to complications such as cholecystitis and pancreatitis. Understanding the harm of gallstones will help us better protect the health of the gallbladder.

Gallstones are "crystallized masses" formed when the bile components in the gallbladder are unbalanced. The main components include cholesterol, bile pigments and calcium salts. They can range in size from sand to eggs and are common in people with irregular diets, obesity or family histories. Usually, gallstones may be asymptomatic for a long time, but once they block the gallbladder duct, they can cause a series of discomfort.

The most typical symptom of gallstones is pain in the right upper abdomen, which usually worsens after eating greasy food. The pain may also radiate to the right shoulder or back. Nausea, vomiting, bloating and other symptoms of indigestion may also occur. If the stones block the bile duct, bile cannot flow normally, and jaundice may also occur, which manifests as yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, and even fever or chills. If not treated in time, in severe cases, it may develop into acute cholecystitis or pancreatitis, which is life-threatening.

In daily life, in order to reduce the risk of gallstones, it is recommended to eat regularly, avoid excessive intake of high-fat, high-cholesterol foods, and keep your weight within a healthy range. Properly increasing dietary fiber intake, such as eating more whole grains, vegetables and fruits, can help improve bile metabolism. For patients who have been diagnosed with gallstones, if they experience recurrent severe pain or symptoms such as fever and jaundice, they should seek medical help immediately to prevent serious complications.