What Is Gallstone Disease or Gallstones?
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located below the liver that stores bile and aids in digestion. According to statistics, 80% of gallstones are made up of cholesterol, with the remaining 20% consisting of bile salts and bilirubin. Gallstones may be asymptomatic or cause intense pain, nausea, and digestive disturbances. Understanding the gallbladder and the formation of gallstones is essential for timely treatment and prevention.
What Causes Gallstones to Form?
Unhealthy Diet
Prolonged storage of bile in the gallbladder due to an unhealthy diet results in hyperconcentrated bile, which promotes the formation of stones.
Excess Cholesterol
High cholesterol levels, both in the blood and in the diet, lead to the formation of cholesterol crystals and cholesterol stones.
Obesity, Sedentary Lifestyle, and Weight Loss Diets
Obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and rapid weight loss diets can slow bile flow and lead to prolonged storage of bile in the gallbladder, promoting the formation of bile sediment and gallstones. Maintaining a balanced lifestyle and achieving gradual, healthy weight loss helps prevent bile stagnation and reduces the risk of gallstone development.
For patients struggling with obesity, bariatric surgery or other medically supervised obesity treatments may be considered. Consult a specialist to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your health needs.
What Are the Symptoms of Gallstones?
The most common symptom of gallstones is pain, known as biliary colic, which typically occurs after consuming fatty meals or specific foods such as garlic, cucumber, eggs, or coffee. The pain is usually localized in the right hypochondrium (under the right rib) and epigastrium.
Additional symptoms may include nausea, bloating, a bitter taste in the morning, and migraines, which fall under biliary dyspepsia syndrome. About 70% of patients with gallstones (cholecystolithiasis) remain asymptomatic, with gallstones often discovered incidentally during routine imaging examinations, such as an abdominal ultrasound.
What Are the Complications of Gallstones?
Acute Cholecystitis
Acute cholecystitis occurs when a gallstone blocks the bile duct, causing inflammation and infection of the gallbladder. Symptoms include pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, and general weakness. This is a surgical emergency that requires prompt evaluation and treatment.
See your doctor if fever develops within 1-2 hours after pain onset. If fever develops soon after the onset of abdominal pain, immediate medical attention is required.
Acute Pancreatitis
Gallstones are the most common cause of acute pancreatitis, a severe abdominal emergency. It presents as intense upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and significant fatigue. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical.
Mechanical Jaundice
Mechanical jaundice develops when a gallstone blocks the main bile duct (common bile duct). Symptoms include jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), dark brown urine, and pale or white stools. Pain, fever, and chills may indicate cholangitis, an urgent infection requiring medical attention.
Gallstones Diagnosis
Gallstones can be diagnosed effectively through imaging methods. Abdominal ultrasound provides a clear view of the gallbladder walls and bile ducts and can determine the size of gallstones.
Ultrasound is safe, non-invasive, and can be repeated as often as needed without exposing the patient to radiation or long-term risks. When complications arise, MR cholangiography is the preferred method for detecting gallstones both in the gallbladder and along the bile ducts.
Gallstones Treatment
Symptomatic gallstones require surgical intervention, typically performed under general anesthesia using laparoscopic instruments to remove the gallbladder. The procedure usually lasts between 20 minutes and 1 hour, and most patients are discharged the day after surgery.
Physical activity can generally be resumed within 4 to 5 days after the operation. Some patients may experience looser stools for up to a week due to direct bile flow into the intestine, and a special diet is recommended for 2 to 4 weeks, with a follow-up consultation scheduled one month after surgery.
Reducing the Risk of Gallstones
Eating Three Meals a Day
Skipping meals or fasting increases the risk of gallstones. Eating regular meals helps maintain normal bile flow.
Gradual Weight Loss
Weight loss should be gradual, ideally 0.5–1 kg per week. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of gallstone formation.
Reducing Calorie Intake
Combining physical activity with reduced calorie intake helps maintain a normal weight and proper bile flow. Once achieved, maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of gallstones. Schedule a consultation with our specialists to evaluate and treat gallstones safely and effectively.
