Gallstones Symptoms And Treatment
Gallstones are formed when there is too much cholesterol or bilirubin in the bile. Bile is produced by the liver to assist the body’s digestive system to break-down fats. The gallbladder keeps this bile until it’s time to use it in the digestion process.
The gallbladder is a tiny organ in the body located beneath the liver. When you have excessive amounts of cholesterol in the bile, you may develop what is called a cholesterol gallstone.
On the other hand, if there is too much bilirubin in the bile, there is a high risk of developing a type of gallstone called pigment stones.
Gallstones Symptoms And Treatment
A large majority of persons with gallstones do not experience any telling symptoms. Gallstones in the body that exhibit no specific symptoms are referred to as silent stones.
As a matter of fact, this type of gallstone is almost always discovered by accident, when a patient undergoes tests such as an abdominal ultrasound, to detect other health conditions.
Symptoms begin to appear when the gallstones start to impede the process of digestion whereby the bile is obstructed from passing through the gallbladder or digestive enzymes are prevented from passing through the pancreas.
Persistence of these obstructions can lead to severe medical conditions like pancreatitis.
Symptoms to watch out for include the following:
• Pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Dyspepsia
• Bloated feeling
• Jaundice
Jaundice appears when the gallstone condition has already affected the liver. In this case, immediate medical attention is required. The stomach pains may occur in episodes, usually in intervals of days, weeks and even months.
However, if the stomach pains occur after meals; particularly so if it is high in fat, medical consultation is needed.
Treatment
If the stomach pains are not alleviated by regular pain relievers, are accompanied by jaundice and vomiting, the patient will need to be taken to the emergency room immediately.
In cases where the pain becomes intolerable and there is risk of developing other diseases, the best remedy is to have the gallstones removed surgically. On the other hand, over-the-counter pain relievers and other medications may be prescribed.
A medical procedure where the gallstones are broken down in smaller pieces may be undertaken to allow the smaller pieces to pass through the gallbladder and the ducts.
This procedure is called Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy.
There are also ways that a person with gallstones can do in order to help the gallbladder. Taking clear liquids and foregoing or at least lessening intake of foods high in fat and grease are recommended.
Silent stones on the other hand do not require any form of treatment.
The Gallstone Elimination Report
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