What are the symptoms of gallstones?

Symptoms of gallstones may manifest as abdominal discomfort or digestive problems in the early stages, especially bloating, abdominal pain or nausea after eating greasy foods, which may be precursors to gallstones. Some people tend to ignore symptoms when they are mild, but as the stones grow larger or block the bile duct, the symptoms will gradually worsen.

Gallstones are solid particles formed by the deposition of cholesterol, bilirubin or calcium salts in bile. They can vary in size, from small grains of sand to large pebbles. When gallstones are located in the gallbladder and do not block the bile duct, there may be no symptoms, but once they cause bile duct obstruction or cholecystitis, they will cause significant discomfort or pain. Common early signs include dull pain in the right upper abdomen, radiating pain in the back or shoulder blade area, and upper abdominal fullness or belching after eating.

When gallstones start to cause problems, symptoms may be more severe, such as severe cramping in the right upper abdomen (biliary colic), fever, jaundice, or itchy skin. If the bile duct is completely blocked, bile stasis may result, leading to cholecystitis or pancreatitis. Some patients may also experience nausea and vomiting, dark urine, and light-colored stools.

In order to reduce the risk of gallstones, it is recommended to control the intake of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods in daily diet, consume more dietary fiber, and maintain moderate exercise to promote bile flow. Irregular diet or long-term hunger will increase the risk of gallstone formation, so you need to pay attention to a balanced diet. If you have obvious severe abdominal pain or fever or jaundice, you should seek medical attention in time to avoid delaying diagnosis and treatment.