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Gold stones in stomach. Gallstones: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Unveiled

by alexxlab

What are gallstones? How do they form? What are the symptoms and risks? Discover the answers to these questions and more in our comprehensive guide on gallstones.

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Understanding Gallstones

Gallstones are pieces of solid material that form in the gallbladder, a small organ located under the liver. These stones can vary in size, ranging from a grain of sand to a golf ball. The two main types of gallstones are cholesterol stones, which are the most common, and pigment stones, which are smaller and darker in color.

Symptoms of Gallstones

Gallstones often don’t cause any symptoms, but they can become problematic when they block the flow of bile through the body’s system. If a gallstone becomes stuck, it can cause intense, knife-like pain in the upper belly, often on the right side just under the ribs. Other symptoms may include pain in the right shoulder or back, an upset stomach, vomiting, and various digestive issues such as indigestion, heartburn, and gas.

Causes of Gallstones

Doctors aren’t entirely sure what causes gallstones, but they believe it can happen when there is too much cholesterol or bilirubin in the bile, or when the gallbladder doesn’t empty properly. Certain risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing gallstones, including being female, being over 40, having a family history of gallstones, being of Native American or Mexican descent, being obese, and having a diet high in fat and cholesterol but low in fiber.

Diagnosing Gallstones

To diagnose gallstones, your doctor will likely perform a physical exam and order various tests, such as blood tests, ultrasounds, CT scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. These tests can help identify the presence of gallstones and rule out other conditions.

Treating Gallstones

If your gallstones aren’t causing any symptoms, you may not need treatment. However, if a gallstone blocks a bile duct, causing a “gallbladder attack,” you’ll likely need surgery to remove your gallbladder. The most common procedure is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, where the gallbladder is removed through small incisions in the abdomen.

Preventing Gallstones

While you can’t always prevent gallstones, you can reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a diet low in fat and high in fiber, and getting regular exercise. If you have risk factors for gallstones, such as a family history or certain medical conditions, your doctor may recommend preventive measures or regular monitoring.

Complications of Gallstones

Gallstones can lead to various complications if left untreated, such as inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), infection, blockage of the bile duct, and even pancreatitis. Seeking prompt medical attention for any signs of a gallbladder attack is crucial to prevent these complications.

Can Gallstones Go Away on Their Own?

Yes, in some cases, small gallstones may pass through the body on their own without any treatment. However, this is not a common occurrence, and most people with symptomatic gallstones will require surgical removal of the gallbladder to resolve the issue.

Gallstone Diagnosis and Treatment

How do doctors diagnose gallstones? To diagnose gallstones, your doctor may order a combination of tests, including blood tests, ultrasounds, CT scans, and endoscopic procedures. These tests can help identify the presence and location of gallstones, as well as any complications. If your gallstones are causing symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgical removal of the gallbladder, known as a cholecystectomy.

Gallstone Risk Factors and Prevention

What factors increase the risk of developing gallstones? Some of the key risk factors include being female, being over 40 years old, having a family history of gallstones, being of Native American or Mexican descent, being obese, and having a diet high in fat and cholesterol but low in fiber. To help prevent gallstones, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, and exercise regularly.

Gallstone Complications and Treatment

What happens if gallstones are left untreated? Untreated gallstones can lead to serious complications, such as inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), infection, blockage of the bile duct, and even pancreatitis. If you experience symptoms of a gallbladder attack, such as severe abdominal pain, fever, and chills, it’s crucial to seek medical attention right away to prevent these complications.

Picture, Symptoms, Types, Causes, Risks, Treatments

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

  • What Are Gallstones?
  • Gallstone Types
  • Symptoms of Gallstones
  • Causes of Gallstones
  • Gallstone Risk Factors
  • Gallstone Diagnosis
  • Can Gallstones Go Away on Their Own?
  • Gallstone Treatment
  • Complications of Gallstones
  • Preventing Gallstones
  • More

Gallstones are pieces of solid material that form in your gallbladder, a small organ under your liver. If you have them, you might hear your doctor say you have cholelithiasis.

Your gallbladder stores and releases bile, a fluid made in your liver, to help in digestion. Bile also carries wastes like cholesterol and bilirubin, which your body makes when it breaks down red blood cells. These things can form gallstones.

Gallstones can range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. You might not know that you have them until they block a bile duct, causing pain that needs treatment right away.

The two main kinds of gallstones are:

  • Cholesterol stones. These are usually yellow-green. They’re the most common, making up 80% of gallstones.
  • Pigment stones. These are smaller and darker. They’re made of bilirubin.

Gallstones don’t normally cause symptoms. Symptoms occur only when a gallstone gets stuck and blocks the flow of bile through your system.

If you have symptoms, they may include:

  • Pain in your upper belly, often on the right, just under your ribs
  • Pain in your right shoulder or back
  • An upset stomach
  • Vomiting
  • Other digestive problems, including indigestion, heartburn, and gas

See your doctor or go to the hospital if you have signs of a serious infection or inflammation:

  • Belly pain that lasts several hours or is severe
  • Fever and chills
  • Yellow skin or eyes

Doctors aren’t sure exactly what causes gallstones, but they might happen when:

  • There’s too much cholesterol in your bile. Your body needs bile for digestion. It usually dissolves cholesterol. But when it can’t do that, the extra cholesterol might form stones.
  • There’s too much bilirubin in your bile. Conditions like cirrhosis, infections, and blood disorders can cause your liver to make too much bilirubin.
  • Your gallbladder doesn’t empty all the way. This can make your bile very concentrated.

You’re more likely to get gallstones if you:

  • Have a family history of them
  • Are a woman
  • Are over age 40
  • Are of Native American or Mexican descent
  • Are obese
  • Have a diet high in fat and cholesterol but low in fiber
  • Don’t get much exercise
  • Use birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy
  • Are pregnant
  • Have diabetes
  • Have an intestinal disease like Crohn’s
  • Have hemolytic anemia or cirrhosis of the liver
  • Take medicine to lower your cholesterol
  • Lose a lot of weight in a short time
  • Are fasting

Your doctor will do a physical exam and might order tests including:

Blood tests.  These check for signs of infection or blockage, and rule out other conditions.

Ultrasound. This makes images of the inside of your body.

CT scan. Specialized X-rays let your doctor see inside your body, including your gallbladder.

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). This test uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio waves to make pictures of the inside of your body, including your liver and gallbladder.

Cholescintigraphy (HIDA scan). This test can check whether your gallbladder squeezes correctly. Your doctor injects a harmless radioactive material that makes its way to the organ. A technician can then watch its movement. This can help diagnose cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) from gallstones.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Your doctor runs a tube called an endoscope through your mouth down to your small intestine. They inject a dye so they can see your bile ducts on a camera in the endoscope. They can often take out any gallstones that have moved into the ducts, but that’s only done if treatment is planned as part of the procedure since it’s invasive.

Endoscopic ultrasound. This test combines ultrasound and endoscopy to look for gallstones that may be in places that are hard to see with other imaging, such as in the common bile duct as it passes through the pancreas.

If your gallstones aren’t causing symptoms, there’s usually no need for you to have surgery. You’ll only need it if a stone goes into, or blocks, one of your bile ducts. This causes what doctors call a “gallbladder attack.” It’s an intense, knife-like pain in your belly that can last several hours.

If you have sickle cell or another blood disorder, your doctor may consider doing a cholecystectomy as a precaution, even if you don’t have symptoms. 

You don’t need treatment if you don’t have symptoms. Some small gallstones can pass through your body on their own.

Most people with gallstones have their gallbladders taken out. You can still digest food without it. Your doctor will use one of two procedures.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This is the most common surgery for gallstones. The surgeon works through tiny cuts (incisions). They pass a narrow tube called a laparoscope into your belly through a small cut. The tube contains a tiny light and a camera. The doctor will take out your gallbladder through another small cut using special devices. You’ll usually go home the same day.

Open cholecystectomy. Your doctor makes bigger cuts in your belly to remove your gallbladder. You’ll stay in the hospital for a few days afterward. You’ll need open surgery if you have a bleeding disorder. You may also need it if you have severe gallbladder disease, are very overweight, or are in your last trimester of pregnancy.

For both types of surgery,  you’ll get general anesthesia. This means you won’t be awake during the procedure.

If gallstones are in your bile ducts, your doctor may use ERCP to find and remove them before or during surgery.

Nonsurgical treatment: If you have another medical condition and your doctor thinks you shouldn’t have surgery, they might give you medication instead. Chenodiol (Chenodo l) and ursodiol (Actigall, Urso 250, Urso Forte) dissolve cholesterol stones. They can cause mild diarrhea.

You may have to take the medicine for years to totally dissolve the stones, and they may come back after you stop taking it.

Gallstones can cause serious problems, including:

  • Gallbladder inflammation (acute cholecystitis). This happens when a stone blocks your gallbladder so it can’t empty. It causes constant pain and fever. Your gallbladder might burst, or rupture, if you don’t get treatment right away.
  • Blocked bile ducts. This can cause fever, chills, and yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice). If a stone blocks the duct to your pancreas, that organ may become inflamed (pancreatitis).
  • Infected bile ducts (acute cholangitis). A blocked duct is more likely to get infected. If the bacteria spread to your bloodstream, they can cause a dangerous condition called sepsis.
  • Gallbladder cancer. It’s rare, but gallstones raise your risk of this kind of cancer.

Some lifestyle changes might lower your risk of gallstones.

  • Eat a healthy diet that’s high in fiber and good fats, like fish oil and olive oil. Avoid refined carbs, sugar, and unhealthy fats.
  • Get regular exercise. Aim for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week.
  • Although obesity is a risk factor, avoid diets that make you lose a lot of weight in a short time.
  • If you’re a woman at high risk of gallstones (for example, because of your family history or another health condition), talk to your doctor about whether you should avoid using hormonal birth control.

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