How do Gallbladder Stones Develop? Know the Treatment Options

Gallbladder is a small pouch-like structure situated under the liver. This structure stores bile that is produced by the liver. It is a pear-shaped organ that delivers bile and is indirectly connected to the digestive system. Although the gallbladder does not digest our food directly, the bile juice stored by it breaks the fats. This also filters the waste products from the liver and deposits them into the duodenum (the initial part of the small intestine).

Causes of Gallbladder Stones

Gall bladder stones or gallstones develop when there is an excess of cholesterol, bilirubin, or bile salts present. According to Harvard Health Publication, 80% of gallstones are made up of cholesterol, while 20% are of calcium salts and bilirubin. The reasons include:

1. Excess Cholesterol in the Bile: The amount of cholesterol when present in excess results in yellow cholesterol stones. This occurs when the level of cholesterol exceeds the amount that can be dissolved by bile. This extra cholesterol gets stored and turned into stones.

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2. Excess Bilirubin in the Bile: Bilirubin is a yellow chemical produced by the liver when old red blood cells break down. But when the liver gets damaged or affected by certain blood disorders, the liver produces excess bilirubin than its usual amount; this huge amount of bilirubin cannot be processed by the gallbladder and results in the formation of pigment stones.

3. Concentrated Bile: The primary purpose of the gallbladder is to empty its bile storage to the intestine. When the whole volume does not get transferred, the residual bile gets concentrated. This results in the formation of stones. 

Symptoms of Gallbladder Stones

Usually, gallstones lead to pain in the upper right part of the abdomen. This happens when an individual has a habit of eating fried or high fatty food.
Along with the pain, the person might feel discomfort, nausea, diarrhoea, or indigestion. They may experience stomach pain and burp frequently. This could also result in dark urination or discharge of clay-coloured stools. 

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How Are Gallstones Treated?

Identifying gallstones needs various diagnostic tests that can provide observation of your internal organs closely. 
The most preferred technique is the Ultrasound. It produces images of the abdomen. This can confirm the presence of gallstones. Apart from this, an Abdominal CT scan also shows the condition of the liver and abdominal area.

Gallstones are commonly unnoticeable until they cause pain. When pain arises, the removal of stones through surgery is recommended.

Here are some of the treatment options that are widely used in the case of gallstones.

1. Natural Remedies: If the presence of gallstones does not cause any pain, then certain lifestyle changes can cure the condition.

• Try to maintain a healthy diet.
• Get a proper amount of sleep.
• Avoid rapid weight loss.
• Do physical activities regularly.
• Take supplements that are approved by the doctor.
• Take Vit C and lecithin enriched supplements.

2. Surgery: The most common surgical method is laparoscopic gallbladder removal. This is done under general anaesthesia and takes very little time. The patient can go home on the same day or day after the surgery if they don’t have any complications. 

3. Nonsurgical Treatment: Recently, medications are not a widely used treatment option for gallbladder stones these days. Also, it takes several years to eliminate gallstones through medications.

Conclusion

Gall bladder stones generally occur to those who have an unhealthy lifestyle. To avoid these painful gallstones, one needs to build healthy habits. Even if anyone has gallstones, the treatment options for the removal of these stones are completely hassle-free. The treatment is expensive and if there has been a history of gallstones in the the family it is recommended to get health insurance which provides coverage for this surgery.

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Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.