Gallbladder Stones: Can be Very Painful

Gallbladder Stones: Can be Very Painful

Gallstones are small solidified particles that form in the gallbladder. Gallstones may or may not cause symptoms. They usually form when bile is not able to flow through the liver as it is supposed to. Gallstones that are formed in the gallbladder are called cholesterol stones. Gallstones are small, hard stones that form in the gallbladder. Gallstones are made of cholesterol and bilirubin, a byproduct of the liver. The liver is responsible for breaking down and removing excess cholesterol and bilirubin from the bloodstream. Gallstones treatment requires proper medical attention.

How are Gallstones Formed?

Gallstones are formed when the gallbladder contracts and bile flows into the duodenum to be released into the intestine. Gallstones can also form when cholesterol and other bits of food get stuck in the gallbladder and are broken down into cholesterol over time. Gallstones can be small and hard to see, or they can be large and painful. They can also be made of different materials, like calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, and cholesterol.

Causes of Gallstones

Gallstones are tiny, solid pieces of cholesterol that form in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small organ that sits under the liver, just in front of the liver cyst. Gallstones can form when the body makes too much cholesterol or when there is too much cholesterol in the bile ducts. Gallstones can also develop when fat and cholesterol build up in the gallbladder, causing the bile ducts to become blocked.

Gallstones can form for a variety of reasons, including eating too much cholesterol, excessive alcohol use, a lack of fiber, and rapid weight loss. Gallstones that form from eating too much cholesterol are called cholesterol stones. This occurs when the gallbladder is unable to effectively break down the cholesterol in your bile.

Symptoms of Gallstones

Gallstones are common conditions in which a gallbladder stone forms and is released from the gallbladder into the small intestine. Gallstones can be painful and may cause symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fatigue. 

Gallstones can also be silent and symptomless. Gallstones usually form after cholesterol and other substances collect in the gallbladder.

How to Prevent Gallstones?

Gallstones can cause a lot of discomfort and pain. If you have gallstones, you will probably want to know how you can get rid of them as quickly as possible. The good news is that there are several ways to prevent gallstones. Some of them are listed below.

  • Don’t skip meals– You may have heard that eating smaller meals frequently can help prevent gallstones. Skipping meals may increase your risk of developing gallstones. That’s because skipping meals often causes you to overeat later on, causing you to gain weight and increase your risk of developing gallstones.
  • Lose weight slowly– When most people think of losing weight, they think of dropping pounds fast. But that’s not always best for our bodies. For weight loss to be healthy, it needs to be slow and steady. That’s because rapid weight loss can lead to gallstones, which are tiny crystals formed when fat and debris collect in the gallbladder.

Gallstones can be painful and hard to treat. If you develop gallstones, then gallbladder stone operation is the final option. Thus, take care of your body and attain a healthy lifestyle.