What are the effects of gallstones on the body?

Gallstones may affect your body more than you think. Gallstones are a common digestive disorder that can cause a variety of health problems. Usually, gallstones cause symptoms such as abdominal pain and indigestion, and in severe cases, they may even lead to cholecystitis or pancreatitis. Understanding the effects of gallstones on the body can help us better prevent and manage this health problem.

1. Abdominal pain and indigestion: The most common symptom of gallstones is pain in the right upper abdomen, which may radiate to the back or shoulders. Many people may experience indigestion, nausea, and vomiting after eating greasy food. This is because gallstones block the normal flow of bile and affect the digestion of fat.

2. Cholecystitis: When gallstones block the exit of the gallbladder, bile cannot be discharged, which may cause inflammation of the gallbladder. This is cholecystitis. Cholecystitis can cause persistent abdominal pain, accompanied by symptoms such as fever and nausea. If not treated in time, it may lead to serious complications such as gallbladder rupture.

3. Pancreatitis: Gallstones can occasionally fall into the common bile duct and further into the pancreatic duct, causing pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a serious disease that can cause severe abdominal pain, along with vomiting and fever. Acute pancreatitis requires immediate medical attention as it can be life-threatening.

4. Jaundice: When gallstones block the common bile duct, the bilirubin in the bile cannot be excreted normally, which may cause jaundice. The typical symptoms of jaundice are yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, which may also be accompanied by darker urine and lighter stools.

In order to avoid the effects of gallstones on the body, it is particularly important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In terms of diet, eating more fiber-rich foods, reducing the intake of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods, maintaining a proper weight, and exercising regularly can all help reduce the risk of gallstones. If symptoms of gallstones have already appeared, timely medical diagnosis and treatment is the key.

The impact of gallstones on the body cannot be ignored. By understanding the health problems it may cause, we can take active preventive and countermeasure measures to protect our health. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, paying attention to changes in the body, and seeking medical help in a timely manner are our effective strategies for dealing with gallstones.