Symptoms and dangers of gallstones

Symptoms and dangers of gallstones

Typical symptoms of gallstones include right upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. In severe cases, jaundice or fever may occur. If not treated in time, gallstones may lead to complications such as cholecystitis and pancreatitis, which seriously endanger health. Once persistent abdominal pain or other related symptoms occur, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to get a clear diagnosis and receive standardized treatment.

1. The main symptoms of gallstones

(1) Pain in the right upper abdomen

The most common symptom of gallstones is severe colic in the right upper abdomen, which often occurs after eating greasy food and may radiate to the back or right shoulder. This is due to the stones blocking the bile duct, causing obstruction of bile flow. For mild cases, you can try to control your diet, but if the symptoms recur, you need to seek medical attention in time.

(2) Indigestion and nausea and vomiting

Patients with gallstones often experience indigestion symptoms such as bloating, belching, and nausea, especially after eating greasy food. This is because bile secretion is affected and fat cannot be effectively digested. If the symptoms are recurrent and severe, ultrasound examination can be used to confirm the presence of gallstones.

(3) Jaundice or fever

When gallstones cause bile duct obstruction or infection, patients may experience symptoms such as yellowing of the skin and sclera, fever, or even chills, which indicates that cholangitis or cholecystitis may have developed. In this case, immediate medical attention is required to alleviate the condition through anti-infection or surgical treatment.

2. The main harm of gallstones

(1) Acute cholecystitis

When gallstones get stuck in the neck of the gallbladder or behind the bile duct, they can cause bile retention and bacterial infection, leading to acute cholecystitis. Acute cholecystitis may cause persistent severe abdominal pain, fever, and even gallbladder perforation. If acute cholecystitis is diagnosed, antibiotics should be used immediately, and in severe cases, surgery to remove the gallbladder is required.

(2) Pancreatitis

After gallstones enter the common bile duct, they may block the opening of the pancreatic duct, causing pancreatic juice to reflux, irritating the pancreas and causing acute pancreatitis. This disease is very dangerous and manifests as severe upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and may even be life-threatening. Treatment mainly includes fasting, gastrointestinal decompression and surgical stone removal.

(3) Increased risk of bile duct cancer

Long-term gallstones may lead to chronic inflammation and hyperplasia of the bile duct epithelium, thereby increasing the risk of bile duct cancer. For patients with recurrent gallstones, surgical removal of the gallbladder is recommended to reduce the risk of cancer.

3. How to prevent and treat gallstones

(1) Dietary adjustment

Avoid high-fat, high-cholesterol foods, and increase dietary fiber intake, such as whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, to help normal bile secretion. Eat each meal at regular times and avoid overeating.

(2) Drug treatment

For small gallstones with mild symptoms, your doctor may recommend oral litholytic drugs (such as ursodeoxycholic acid) to dissolve the stones, but the treatment course is long and you need to strictly follow the doctor's instructions.

(3) Surgical treatment

For patients with severe symptoms, recurrent attacks or complications, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is currently the most commonly used and effective treatment method, with the advantages of less trauma and faster recovery. For bile duct stones, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can be used to remove stones.

Kind tips

Although gallstones are common, serious complications can be avoided if they are discovered in time and treated scientifically. In daily life, we should focus on healthy diet, moderate exercise, and weight control. In particular, middle-aged and elderly people and obese people need regular physical examinations to monitor gallbladder health. If relevant symptoms have already appeared, do not delay and seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid worsening of the condition. Health is always in your own hands, and paying attention to body signals in a timely manner is the first step to protect health.