How are gallstones formed? Gallstones are hard deposits of the digestive fluid which is also called as bile that get formed in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small organ which is on the right side of the abdomen below the liver. The gallbladder contains the digestive fluid which is released to the small intestine. The gallstone consists of cholesterol or bilirubin which is actually the discarded red blood cells. The size of the gallstone can vary; it can be small as a grain or as big as a golf ball. Few people only have one gallstone while other may have more than one. In many cases gallstones may exist but the person may not be aware of its existence. Gallstone is very common in America and those who are suffering from this problem have to undergo a gallbladder surgery to remove the gallbladder. In cases where no signs are visible there is no need for any treatment. Causes of gallstones: The components which form the digestive fluid get hardened in the gallbladder. There is no exact cause that leads to formation of gallstones. According to doctors the gallstones are formed are due to the following reasons;
Cholesterol gallstones – In most of the cases the gallstones are formed due to excessive cholesterol in the bile. The bile normally dissolves the cholesterol but due to some reason if there is excessive cholesterol it will not get completely dissolved and forms into hard stones.
Bilirubin gallstones – Bilirubin is the chemical produced when the red blood cells are destroyed by the liver. Due to certain blood disorders or liver cirrhosis the liver produces more bilirubin and this gets hardened when the gallbladder is unable to breakdown the excessive bilirubin.
Concentrated Bile - This occurs when the gallbladder is unable to empty the bile completely or at regular intervals. Due to this bile gets concentrated and the gallstones are formed.
Risk factors that cause gallstones: The body naturally produces cholesterol, but an individual can have excessive cholesterol in the body due to the diet. Some of the factors which are associated with formation of gallstones are; Obesity Eating food that has a lot of fat or cholesterol
Eating food that has lot of fiber content Sudden weight loss in a short period of time Some of the other factors that contribute to formation of gallstones are; Women are more likely than men to develop gallstones and the probability is more among pregnant women People in whose immediate family there are cases of gallstones Older adults above 60 years People with liver cirrhosis People taking certain medication to reduce cholesterol or medicines that have high content of estrogen Symptoms of Gallstones: One may not necessarily have any signs or symptoms of gallstones and many people will not even experience any pain which is called as silent gallstones. It is only possible to detect these gallstones through X-ray or while conducting a surgery of the abdomen. One of the most common symptoms of gallstones is pain which is experienced on the right side of the abdomen. This pain many a times extends to the back or right shoulder. The other symptoms associated with gallstones are; Fever Nausea Vomiting Yellowing of the skin or eyes Clay color motions Stages of gallstones: The severe gallstone pain will lasts for more than one hour and this kind of severe pain is called as gallbladder attack. The pain is not only caused by the gallstones, it is when the gallstones obstruct the flow of bile from the gallbladder. This blockage and increase in pain is a gradual process and it can be divided into three stages; 1. Stage 1 – The formation of the gallstones and there will be no pain experienced in this stage 2. Stage 2 - One begins to experience gallbladder pain on and off and it does not last for hours. This pain may occur after eating any food that has high fat content like fried food. The other symptoms that occur in this stage are burping, nausea, diarrhea and indigestion. 3. Stage 3 – The gallstone starts blocking the bile to pass from the gallbladder which leads to gallbladder attack. This situation calls for a medical emergency treatment. The other symptoms in this stage are fever shivering and loss of appetite. Diagnosis of gallstones: The doctor conducts a physical examination of the patient and will also check the eyes and skin to see if there is any color change. The yellowing of the
skin and eyes indicate jaundice which is caused due to excessive bilirubin in the body. The other tests that the doctor may suggest can be; Ultrasound – Through this imaging method it is possible to know if a person is suffering from gallstone disease. CT scan – Through this imaging test, pictures are taken of the abdomen to now if there is any existence of gallstones. Gallbladder radionuclide scan – This is a special scan which takes about an hour for completion and is performed by a specialist. In this scan radioactive substances are injected in the vein which then passes through the blood to the gallbladder and liver. This will help to identify if there is any infection or blockage. Blood tests – This test is done to know the bilirubin count in the blood and to check if the liver is functioning properly. Treatment of gallstones: Given below are the treatment options available for removing the gallstones and improving the condition of the patient.
Surgery - The patient will have to undergo a surgery if there is severe pain and other symptoms. The doctor will conduct a laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery on the patient. Medications – There are certain medicines that help the gallbladder to dissolve the extra cholesterol. These medications will have to be taken for a long period of time to get rid of the gallstones.
Prevention of gallstones: Gallstones cannot be prevented since its formation is based on a lot of factors. But the chances of developing this disorder can be reduced by making certain lifestyle changes like; Following a balanced diet Eating at regular intervals and not skipping a meal Drinking lot of fluids in a day Weight loss in a slow and steady manner since sudden weight loss can cause gallstones and other health issues