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Losing weight with gallstones. Gallstones and Weight Loss: Understanding the Connection and Safe Strategies

How does weight affect gallstone formation. What are the risks of rapid weight loss for gallstone development. Can weight cycling lead to gallstones. How to lose weight safely to reduce gallstone risk.

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The Link Between Obesity and Gallstone Formation

Obesity significantly increases the risk of developing gallstones, especially in women. Research has uncovered several mechanisms behind this connection:

  • Higher cholesterol levels in bile among individuals with obesity
  • Larger, less efficient gallbladders in people carrying excess weight
  • Increased risk for those with abdominal fat compared to hip and thigh fat distribution

Why does excess weight contribute to gallstone formation? The elevated cholesterol levels in bile can lead to supersaturation, promoting the crystallization process that forms gallstones. Additionally, larger gallbladders may not empty as effectively, allowing bile to stagnate and potentially form stones.

The Paradox of Rapid Weight Loss and Gallstone Risk

While obesity increases gallstone risk, losing weight too quickly can also trigger gallstone formation. This creates a challenging situation for those attempting to improve their health through weight loss. What factors contribute to this paradox?

  • Extended fasting periods or very low-calorie diets cause the liver to release excess cholesterol into bile
  • Rapid weight loss can impair proper gallbladder emptying
  • Weight-loss surgeries may lead to fast weight reduction and increased gallstone risk

How does the speed of weight loss impact gallstone formation? Slower, more gradual weight loss appears to be less likely to trigger gallstone development compared to rapid weight loss methods. This underscores the importance of sustainable, long-term approaches to weight management.

Understanding the Impact of Weight-Loss Treatments on Gallstone Risk

Different weight-loss strategies carry varying levels of gallstone risk. Which approaches are more likely to cause problems?

  • Very low-calorie diets
  • Bariatric surgeries
  • Extreme fasting regimens

Why do these methods increase gallstone risk? They often lead to rapid weight loss, which can disrupt normal gallbladder function and bile composition. Conversely, more moderate approaches that result in slower weight loss tend to have a lower associated gallstone risk.

Risk Factors for Post-Weight Loss Gallstone Complications

Certain individuals may be at higher risk for developing gallstone-related issues after significant weight loss. These risk factors include:

  • Pre-existing gallstones, especially those that have caused symptoms
  • Extreme obesity before weight loss treatment
  • Very rapid weight reduction following surgery or strict dieting

How can individuals mitigate these risks? Discussing your personal risk factors with a healthcare provider is crucial. They may recommend preventive measures, such as prescribing ursodiol, a medication that can help prevent gallstone formation during rapid weight loss.

The Role of Weight Cycling in Gallstone Development

Weight cycling, often referred to as “yo-yo dieting,” involves repeatedly losing and regaining weight. This pattern of fluctuation can increase the likelihood of developing gallstones. Why is weight cycling problematic for gallstone risk?

  • Each cycle of significant weight loss may trigger gallstone formation
  • Repeated weight gain and loss can disrupt normal gallbladder function
  • The severity of risk increases with the magnitude of weight fluctuations

How can individuals break the cycle of yo-yo dieting? Focusing on sustainable lifestyle changes rather than quick-fix diets is key. Gradual, consistent weight loss followed by long-term weight maintenance is the healthiest approach for both overall health and gallstone prevention.

Safe Weight Loss Strategies to Minimize Gallstone Risk

Losing weight in a manner that reduces gallstone risk is possible with the right approach. What strategies can help individuals achieve their weight loss goals while minimizing gallstone formation?

  • Aim for gradual weight loss of 5-10% of starting weight over 6 months
  • Choose foods that may lower gallstone risk
  • Incorporate regular physical activity into your routine
  • Avoid crash diets and extreme calorie restriction

How does gradual weight loss benefit gallstone prevention? Slow, steady weight reduction allows the body to adapt more effectively, reducing the likelihood of disrupting bile composition and gallbladder function. This approach not only lowers gallstone risk but also promotes sustainable, long-term weight management.

Dietary Choices for Gallstone Prevention During Weight Loss

Certain dietary choices may help reduce the risk of gallstone formation while supporting weight loss efforts. Which foods should individuals consider incorporating into their diet?

  • High-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
  • Healthy fats from sources like nuts, seeds, and olive oil
  • Lean proteins such as fish, poultry, and legumes
  • Adequate calcium intake from low-fat dairy or fortified plant-based alternatives

Why do these dietary choices help? High-fiber foods can help regulate bile cholesterol levels, while healthy fats promote proper gallbladder emptying. Lean proteins and calcium-rich foods may also play a role in reducing gallstone risk.

The Importance of Physical Activity in Gallstone Prevention

Regular exercise not only supports weight loss efforts but may also help reduce the risk of gallstone formation. How much physical activity is recommended for optimal health and gallstone prevention?

  • Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week
  • Incorporate muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week
  • Choose activities you enjoy to promote consistency

Why does physical activity help prevent gallstones? Exercise can help regulate cholesterol levels, promote healthy weight management, and improve overall metabolic health. These factors collectively contribute to reducing gallstone risk.

Types of Physical Activity for Gallstone Prevention

A variety of physical activities can contribute to gallstone prevention and overall health. What are some examples of beneficial exercises?

  • Brisk walking or jogging
  • Swimming or water aerobics
  • Cycling
  • Strength training with weights or resistance bands
  • Yoga or Pilates

How can individuals incorporate these activities into their routine? Start slowly and gradually increase intensity and duration. Aim for a mix of aerobic and strength-training exercises throughout the week. Remember to consult with a healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise program, especially if you have existing health concerns.

Medical Interventions for Gallstone Prevention During Weight Loss

In some cases, medical interventions may be recommended to reduce gallstone risk during weight loss, particularly for individuals undergoing rapid weight reduction. What options are available?

  • Ursodiol medication to prevent gallstone formation
  • Regular monitoring for gallstone development in high-risk individuals
  • Customized weight loss plans designed to minimize gallstone risk

When might medical interventions be necessary? Individuals planning to undergo weight loss surgery or embark on very low-calorie diets may benefit from preventive measures. Those with a history of gallstones or other risk factors should discuss their options with a healthcare provider.

The Role of Ursodiol in Gallstone Prevention

Ursodiol is a medication that can help prevent gallstone formation during rapid weight loss. How does ursodiol work to reduce gallstone risk?

  • Decreases cholesterol concentration in bile
  • Improves gallbladder emptying
  • May help dissolve small, existing gallstones

Who should consider ursodiol treatment? This medication is typically recommended for individuals at high risk of gallstone formation during rapid weight loss, such as those undergoing bariatric surgery or following very low-calorie diets. However, it’s essential to discuss the potential benefits and risks with a healthcare provider before starting any medication.

Long-Term Strategies for Gallstone Prevention and Weight Management

Maintaining a healthy weight over time is crucial for reducing gallstone risk and promoting overall health. What long-term strategies can help individuals achieve this goal?

  • Focus on sustainable lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes
  • Develop a balanced approach to nutrition and physical activity
  • Regular health check-ups and screenings
  • Stress management techniques
  • Adequate sleep and hydration

Why is a long-term approach important? Sustainable lifestyle changes not only help prevent gallstones but also contribute to overall health and well-being. By focusing on gradual, consistent improvements, individuals can achieve lasting weight management success while minimizing health risks.

The Role of Stress Management in Weight Control and Gallstone Prevention

Chronic stress can contribute to weight gain and potentially increase gallstone risk. How can individuals effectively manage stress to support their health goals?

  • Practice mindfulness or meditation
  • Engage in regular physical activity
  • Maintain social connections and support systems
  • Prioritize self-care and relaxation
  • Consider professional counseling if needed

Why is stress management important for gallstone prevention? High stress levels can impact dietary choices, sleep patterns, and overall health behaviors. By effectively managing stress, individuals can better adhere to healthy lifestyle habits that reduce gallstone risk and support weight management.

The Importance of Regular Health Monitoring

Regular health check-ups and screenings play a crucial role in preventing and detecting gallstone-related issues. What should individuals discuss with their healthcare providers?

  • Personal and family history of gallstones
  • Current weight and weight loss goals
  • Dietary habits and physical activity levels
  • Any symptoms that may indicate gallstone presence

How often should individuals undergo gallstone screenings? The frequency of screenings depends on individual risk factors. Those with a history of gallstones or undergoing rapid weight loss may require more frequent monitoring. Discuss your specific needs with your healthcare provider to develop an appropriate screening schedule.

Understanding Gallstone Symptoms

Recognizing potential gallstone symptoms is crucial for early detection and treatment. What signs should individuals be aware of?

  • Sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen
  • Pain that radiates to the back or right shoulder
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Fever or chills
  • Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)

When should individuals seek medical attention for potential gallstone symptoms? Any sudden, severe abdominal pain warrants immediate medical evaluation. Additionally, persistent or recurring symptoms should be discussed with a healthcare provider, even if they’re mild.

Balancing Weight Loss Goals with Gallstone Prevention

Achieving a healthy weight while minimizing gallstone risk requires a thoughtful, balanced approach. How can individuals strike this balance effectively?

  • Set realistic, gradual weight loss goals
  • Focus on overall health improvements rather than rapid weight reduction
  • Adopt a varied, nutrient-rich diet
  • Incorporate regular physical activity
  • Work with healthcare providers to develop personalized strategies

Why is balance important in weight management and gallstone prevention? By taking a holistic approach that considers both weight loss goals and gallstone risk, individuals can improve their overall health while minimizing potential complications. This balanced strategy promotes long-term success and well-being.

The Role of Personalized Nutrition Plans

Customized nutrition plans can help individuals achieve their weight loss goals while supporting gallstone prevention. What factors should be considered when developing a personalized nutrition strategy?

  • Individual nutritional needs and preferences
  • Existing health conditions and risk factors
  • Lifestyle factors such as work schedule and physical activity levels
  • Cultural and personal food preferences
  • Specific gallstone prevention considerations

How can individuals access personalized nutrition guidance? Working with a registered dietitian or nutritionist can provide valuable insights and support. These professionals can help develop tailored meal plans that balance weight loss goals with gallstone prevention strategies, ensuring a comprehensive approach to health and wellness.

Dieting & Gallstones – NIDDK

In this section:

  • How does weight affect gallstones?
  • How does my fast weight loss affect gallstones?
  • Is weight cycling a problem?
  • How can I safely lose weight to lower my chances of getting gallstones?

How does weight affect gallstones?

Being overweight or having obesity may make you more likely to develop gallstones, especially if you are a woman. Researchers have found that people who have obesity may have higher levels of cholesterol in their bile, which can cause gallstones. People who have obesity may also have large gallbladders that do not work well. Some studies have shown that people who carry large amounts of fat around their waist may be more likely to develop gallstones than those who carry fat around their hips and thighs.

Losing weight very quickly may raise your chances of forming gallstones, however. Talk with your health care professional about how to lose weight safely.

How does my fast weight loss affect gallstones?

When you don’t eat for a long period of time or you lose weight quickly, your liver releases extra cholesterol into the bile. Fast weight loss can also prevent the gallbladder from emptying properly. Weight-loss surgery may lead to fast weight loss and higher risk of gallstones.

Your chances of developing gallstones may depend on the type of weight-loss treatment you choose. Diets or surgeries that cause fast weight loss may be more likely to lead to gallstone problems than diets or surgeries that lead to slower weight loss. If you have silent gallstones, you may also be more likely to develop gallstone symptoms.

Several factors may raise your chances of having problems with gallstones after weight-loss surgery or a very low-calorie diet. These factors include

  • gallstones that you had before your weight-loss surgery or before you went on a very low-calorie diet, especially if the stones caused symptoms
  • a large amount of extra weight before you have weight-loss surgery or go on a very low-calorie diet
  • very quick weight loss after the surgery or a very low-calorie diet

If you are starting a very low-calorie diet or having weight-loss surgery, talk with your doctor about how to lower your chances of developing gallstones. The medicine ursodiol can help prevent gallstones in people who lose weight rapidly through very low-calorie diets or weight-loss surgery.

If you are starting a very low-calorie diet or having weight-loss surgery, talk with your doctor about how to lower your chances of developing gallstones.

Is weight cycling a problem?

Weight cycling, or losing and regaining weight repeatedly, may also lead to gallstones. The more weight you lose and regain during a cycle, the greater your chances of developing gallstones.

Stay away from “crash diets” that promise to help you drop the pounds quickly. Aim for losing weight at a slower pace and keeping it off over time.

How can I safely lose weight to lower my chances of getting gallstones?

Losing weight at a slow pace may make it less likely that you will develop gallstones. For people who are overweight or have obesity, experts recommend beginning with a weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of your starting weight over a period of 6 months. 4 In addition, weight loss may bring you other benefits such as better mood, more energy, and positive self-image.

When making healthy food choices to help you lose weight, you can choose food that may also lower your chances of developing gallstones.

Regular physical activity, which will improve your overall health, may also lower your chances of developing gallstones. To improve health or prevent weight gain, aim for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity, like brisk walking or fast dancing. Adults also need muscle-strengthening activity, like lifting weights or doing push-ups, at least 2 days a week.5

Talk with your doctor before you start an eating and physical activity plan to improve your health or maintain your weight loss. View weight management resources from the NIDDK.

References

The Link Between Gallstones, Obesity, and Weight Loss

Obesity increases your chances of developing gallstones, but so do weight loss surgery and certain types of diets. Find out how to safely reduce your risks with tips from a registered dietitian nutritionist.

By Erica Ilton, RDN, CDNMedically Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD

Reviewed:

Medically Reviewed

Find out how to lose weight safely to reduce your risk of gallstones.Getty Images; iStock.com

Gallstones are rock-hard deposits that develop in the gallbladder, a small organ in the upper right abdomen just below the liver. Gallstones can be so small they’re barely visible, or as large as a golf ball. They can exist singly or by the hundreds. And they can be asymptomatic or excruciatingly painful.

Gallstones are formed when bile, which aids in the digestion of fat, contains too much cholesterol or bilirubin and not enough bile acids or lecithin (substances that allow water- and oil-based liquids to mix). Cholesterol gallstones are the most prevalent type, but stones made from bilirubin (called “pigment gallstones”) are also common.

Obesity can lead to gallstones because it “alters the balance of cholesterol versus lecithin versus bile acids in the gallbladder,” says William Silverman, MD, professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Excess body weight also makes it more difficult for the gallbladder to empty, says Dr. Silverman, and this allows cholesterol-rich bile to accumulate and harden into stones.

How to Lose Weight Safely to Reduce Your Risk of Gallstones

Losing excess weight is a surefire way to reduce your risk of gallstones. Most experts agree that slow, steady weight loss is preferable to crash diets, which is especially important when it comes to gallstones. Rapid weight loss, meaning 3 or more pounds (lbs) per week, can trigger gallstones for the same reasons as obesity — it alters the balance of cholesterol, lecithin, and bile acids, and prevents the gallbladder from emptying adequately.

People who have had bariatric surgery are prime candidates for gallstones because they tend to lose a significant amount of weight in the first three to six months. The type of surgery doesn’t matter, says Silverman, because “it’s the weight loss that precipitates stones rather than the actual surgery.”

Gallstones are such a common occurrence after bariatric surgery that patients are routinely given ursodiol, a medication that helps prevent stone formation by decreasing cholesterol production and dissolving it in bile.

Weight loss of ½ to 2 lbs per week is a good goal for most people. Modest weight loss not only helps prevent gallstones, it also encourages new habits that can help put an end to losing and regaining weight repeatedly — and weight cycling is another risk factor for gallstones.

When it comes to gallstone prevention, the type of food you eat doesn’t really matter, says Silverman; the important thing is to avoid eating too much. That being said, extremely low-fat diets are not a great idea because they inhibit gallbladder contractions, making it harder for the gallbladder to empty and allowing bile to accumulate and calcify instead of being released into the small intestine.

Weight loss is best achieved with increased activity and a sustainable diet that doesn’t leave you feeling hungry, fatigued, or deprived. A customized eating plan combined with these fad-resistant strategies will help you achieve your goals:

  • Plan your meals in advance, especially when eating out. Menus are often posted online, which makes this a lot easier.
  • Keep a food journal. People who log everything they consume within 15 minutes of eating lose more weight than those who either don’t keep a journal or who wait to record their entries.
  • Create a file (online or hard copy) of your favorite low-calorie recipes, and try to always have a stash of key ingredients in your fridge or cupboard.
  • Keep healthy, low-calorie snacks in your home, office, car, bag — wherever! This will help you stay on track when the munchies hit and the only thing around is junk food.
  • Identify and address “triggers” for unhealthy eating. This may be as simple as moving a candy dish off your coffee table or as challenging as getting to the bottom of why you eat when stressed or bored.
  • Eat only until you’re satisfied, not until you’re stuffed. If you eat slowly and mindfully, you’re less likely to overeat because it takes about 15 to 20 minutes for your brain to register that your stomach is full.
  • Try not to multitask while eating. Turn off the TV, power down your computer, and don’t take or make calls during meals. Talking to dining companions is A-OK, of course — you can’t (or shouldn’t) talk and eat at the same time, so a good conversation can help extend the mealtime and prevent overeating.
  • Make sure you get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation sets you up for weight gain by increasing hunger and decreasing your ability to resist comfort foods.

Finally, don’t expect to be perfect. Stuff happens, and you can’t always control what, where, and how you eat. The occasional extra piece of pizza or a couch potato day will not ruin your weight loss efforts or result in a spontaneous gallstone. Just try to learn from the experience so you can prevent it from happening again, and then get right back to your healthy eating and exercise plan.

RELATED: 5 Sneaky Reasons You’re Overeating — And How to Stop

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90,000 Gallstones and “eaten” muscles. What is dangerous rapid weight loss | Nutrition and diet | Health

The sooner the better – this rule works for many goals and desires, but not in matters of weight loss. Firstly, it can harm your health, and even the lost kilograms are likely to quickly return, and even in excess. Unfortunately, with the wrong approach, we end up not getting slimmer, but fatter, and after a strict diet, we gain even more.

Why is this happening? And what will happen if you still lose weight quickly? We deal with a specialist.

Losing a few pounds in a week is a great result, many people think. But this is one of the biggest mistakes. “Often those who are fond of diets do not appreciate what they are really losing,” clinical geneticist and nutritionist Svetlana Perez de Montes Ratherink warns . It doesn’t have to be fat. Most often, with rapid weight loss, muscle mass is lost. The body needs energy, but does not receive food. And he begins to feed on his own tissues, including muscles. As a result, we get a minus on the scales, but the fat layer remains intact, the muscles disappear. Then, when the nutrition returns to normal, the body will restore the “eaten” tissues, because it needs them. Accordingly, the weight will return.

Another problem is slow metabolism. “Research has shown that losing weight too quickly can cause your metabolism to work slower, which means you burn fewer calories,” says Perez de Montes Ratherink. It turns out that you reduce the daily caloric content of your diet, and the body, meanwhile, reduces the consumption of these calories. And the deficit is not as big as you expected. But you will feel a breakdown, because the body needs to save energy.

Nutrient deficiency. Less food means less vitamins and minerals you need. “Such a deficiency can lead to many problems,” the nutritionist warns, “including hair loss, severe fatigue, fragile bones, weakened immune systems.

Finally, rapid weight loss is fraught with the formation of gallstones. “Every time we eat, the gallbladder secretes gastric juice that helps break down food so it can be digested,” explains Svetlana Perez de Montes Ratherink. “If you eat a small amount of food, some of the unreleased bile juices can form gallstones.”

You should be alert if you experience dizziness, irritability, muscle cramps, problems with stools, constipation or diarrhea while losing weight. All this may indicate an incorrect diet and requires consultation with a specialist.

Dangers of mono-diets

Often, lovers of quick weight loss resort to mono-diets. The so-called fasting days on kefir, apples, celery or buckwheat. This is especially popular after the New Year holidays or Easter. When everyone who celebrated too tasty suddenly found unpleasant numbers on the scales.

Such diets will not benefit the body. “The risk is that there is no perfect food that meets all the energy (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) and nutritional (vitamins and minerals) requirements,” says Perez de Montes Ratherink. “Thus, eating only one food can lead to health problems as well as malnutrition.”

Losing weight is initially inspired by the effect of mono-diets – rapid weight loss due to an acute calorie deficit. But the problem is, as we have already said, rapid weight loss due to a lack of incoming valuable nutrients depletes muscle mass in the long run. “In addition to the problems listed above, the kidneys can be overloaded due to excess decay products of their own proteins, because of this, edema is created,” the expert laments. “Therefore, the effect of a “rebound” and subsequent weight gain is guaranteed.” Do not underestimate the state of frustration that will arise as weight loss slows down, and it becomes more and more difficult to lose the kilograms gained again. In this case, people tend to choose an even more rigid and low-calorie diet for themselves, only exacerbating the problems.

So if you are an adherent of mono-diets, then you need to remember that they cannot be used for a long time, only in short courses, one or two days. “It is worth choosing nutritious foods for such fasting days, buckwheat, cottage cheese. – says Perez de Montes Ratherink, – you should not “sit” only on vegetables or fruits. The body still needs a small amount of protein, especially after the toxic load on the liver, which was on New Year’s holidays. We need building materials to regenerate the cells that have been damaged during the overload in time.”

Nutrition advice

Don’t lose weight fast: Losing 0.5 to 1 kg per week is considered healthy. Although it should be borne in mind that at the very beginning of losing weight, with a lot of excess weight, the body easily loses excess. But in a couple of weeks everything will return to normal and it’s more correct to focus on 1 kg per week.

Do not overload the body with any of the types of products, but you should not completely exclude immediately those to which the body is accustomed. If you want to reduce, for example, simple carbohydrates, then you need to understand what you will replace them with? What dried fruits, fruits, cereals will be in your diet?

Carbohydrates should not be avoided completely or to a greater extent. This is one of the body’s main sources of energy, and by reducing something, we certainly need compensation.

It is important to establish a drinking balance, especially after the holidays, when the load on the detoxification systems was many times higher than usual. If you don’t feel like drinking water at all, try starting with mineralized water rich in sodium, this will nourish the cells with water and allow you to remove the symptoms of dehydration after an excess of alcohol during the holidays and holidays.

how to recognize and when to see a doctor

We often hear stories about people with gallstones. In fact, they are formed quite often, but do not always make themselves felt. However, it is not uncommon for the signs that something is wrong with the gallbladder to be clearly visible, but we do not consider them to be something serious.

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The gallbladder is part of the digestive system. It is located next to the liver and is involved in the storage of bile, a fluid involved in the breakdown of fats in the body. For a variety of reasons, stones can appear in the gallbladder – dense formations that consist of bile and cholesterol. Stones in the gallbladder may not manifest themselves in any way, but in some cases they clog the bile ducts and provoke inflammation.

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Gallstones occur in both men and women, but women are twice as likely to have this problem. The exact reason for this is unknown, but most likely it is due to different production of sex hormones. This version is supported by the fact that pregnancy and even the use of oral contraceptives, conditions in which the production of hormones changes, can provoke and intensify the formation of stones.

If there are too many blisters in the gallbladder and they interfere with normal digestion, then an operation to remove the gallbladder may be the way out. After that, the body will need some time to recover – you will have to adjust your diet and lifestyle.

Finding gallbladders is often an incidental finding on ultrasound, and the need for such an examination is sometimes caused by certain symptoms that make it possible to suspect a problem.

The doctor will prescribe tests and an ultrasound examination, with the help of which one or another anomaly with the gallbladder can be suspected. Among the signs that experts pay attention to are the size of the organ and the thickness of its walls. If they are too thick, and the organ itself is larger than normal, this may indicate inflammation, which is associated with the formation of stones in the gallbladder.

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Sometimes ultrasound is not enough, and more serious examinations, such as MRI or cholescintigraphy, are needed to make a diagnosis.

So, what can be the reason for the examination? Here are 5 signs to keep in mind.

Abdominal pain

The most common sign indicating problems with the gallbladder is a dull pain in the abdomen, localized in the liver. It can occur several hours after eating and persist for some time. Often the pain radiates to the lower back and the center of the abdomen.

In general, if you notice that abdominal pain appears after every or almost every meal, and in addition, it can be provoked by fatty foods and large meals, then this is a reason to visit a doctor. It is worth contacting a general practitioner or gastroenterologist.

Jaundice

If you notice that the skin has acquired a strange yellowish tint, the whites of the eyes have also turned yellow, and the urine has become dark, you can suspect problems with the gallbladder, pancreas and liver.

Jaundice may occur if a stone formed in the gallbladder blocks the bile duct – in this case they speak of obstructive jaundice. Her symptoms are caused by the accumulation of bilirubin – it causes that very yellowish tint.

Nausea

Nausea and vomiting are frequent companions of digestive problems. They appear with poisoning and intestinal infections, and can also occur in other situations. Nausea in violation of the gallbladder is quite common. Vomiting is a rarer symptom, although it is also possible.

Like abdominal pain, these signs are often associated in time with meals: nausea occurs some time after eating. If several such cases have been recorded and abdominal pain is noted (however, it may not be), then these are most often signs of gallstones.

Pancreatitis

The pancreas is located in close proximity to the liver and gallbladder. Pacreatitis – inflammation of the pancreas is often a reason for checking nearby organs, the gallbladder is one of them.

Inflammation of the pancreas is often provoked just by blockage of the bile duct by the formed stone.

Pancreatitis can be recognized by the following symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, fever, rapid pulse. The combination of these signs should be the reason for contacting a doctor and undergoing an examination.