How to treat gallstones

Gallstones are a common digestive disease in modern people. Many people may ask, how should gallstones be treated? In fact, the method of treating gallstones mainly depends on the size and location of the stones and the severity of the symptoms. Generally speaking, treatment methods include medication, non-surgical treatment and surgical treatment. Understanding these methods can help you better choose a treatment plan that suits you.

1. Drug treatment: For patients with mild symptoms or small stones, doctors may recommend the use of drugs to dissolve gallstones. This method is usually suitable for cholesterol stones. Long-term use of bile acid drugs helps the stones gradually dissolve. However, this method takes a long time and is not effective for all patients.

2. Non-surgical treatment: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a non-surgical treatment for certain types of gallstones. The stones are broken up by shock waves so that they can be discharged naturally. This method is relatively mild, but it is not suitable for all patients, especially those with large stones or those with gallbladder inflammation.

3. Surgery: When gallstones cause severe symptoms or complications, surgery may be the most effective treatment option. The most common surgical method is laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which removes the gallbladder through minimally invasive surgery. The surgery has lower risks and shorter recovery time, and is currently a common method for treating gallstones.

When choosing a treatment method, it is recommended that patients fully communicate with their doctors based on their specific conditions and choose the most suitable treatment plan. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as a proper diet and moderate exercise, can also help prevent the formation of gallstones. I hope that this information can help you better understand the treatment methods for gallstones and take positive measures to improve your health.