What are the symptoms of gallstones?

Symptoms of gallstones vary from person to person. Some people may experience no discomfort, while others may experience significant abdominal pain, digestive problems or other symptoms, depending on the size and location of the stone and whether it causes complications.

Gallstones are hard particles of bile that accumulate in the gallbladder or bile ducts. Normally, bile helps digest fats, but when there is too much cholesterol or not enough bile salts in the bile, stones may form. These stones can stay in the gallbladder without causing symptoms, or they may get stuck in the bile ducts, blocking the flow of bile and causing discomfort.

When gallstones cause symptoms, the most common is pain in the right upper abdomen, often after eating rich foods. This pain is usually severe and lasts from a few minutes to a few hours, sometimes radiating to the back or right shoulder. Gallstones may also cause nausea, vomiting, bloating, indigestion, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes). If the stones lead to an infection of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), fever, chills, and other symptoms may occur.

If you often feel pain in the right upper abdomen after eating, or have obvious problems such as indigestion and jaundice, it is recommended to seek medical attention in time to avoid more serious health problems caused by gallstones. You can pay attention to eating a light diet, avoid consuming too much fat, exercise moderately, and control your weight, which can help reduce the risk of gallstones.