The gallbladder, a small, pear-shaped sac beneath the liver in the right upper abdomen, is where gallstones form when bile, a fluid that aids in the body’s digestion of fats, hardens into stone-like material.
The waste product bilirubin, which gives bile and stool their yellowish-brown color, is found in bile along with water, cholesterol, fats, bile salts, proteins, and fats. If the liquid bile contains too much cholesterol, bile salts, or bilirubin, it may harden into gallstones.
TYPES OF GALLSTONES
There are two varieties of gallstones:
1. Cholesterol stones :-Gallstones made primarily of hardened cholesterol account for about 80% of all stones, and are typically yellow-green in color.
2. Pigment stones :-Gallstones can form in the gallbladder as a single large stone, hundreds of smaller stones, or a combination of the two. Pigment stones are small, dark stones made of bilirubin.
Any of the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver to the small intestine, can become clogged with gallstones, which can prevent the normal flow of bile.
- bile from the liver out through the hepatic ducts
- bile travels through and out of the gallbladder via the cystic duct.
- The common bile duct transports bile to the small intestine from the cystic and hepatic ducts.
Other ducts, such as the pancreatic duct, which transports digestive enzymes out of the pancreas, open into the common bile duct. Sometimes gallstones passing through the common bile duct cause inflammation in the pancreas known as gallstone pancreatitis, an excruciatingly painful and potentially dangerous condition.
Fever, jaundice, and persistent pain are warning signs of a serious problem, which can be fatal if left untreated.
CAUSES OF GALLSTONES
The cause of these imbalances is unknown, but it is thought that cholesterol stones develop when the amount of bile salts, bilirubin, or cholesterol is excessive, or when the gallbladder does not empty completely or frequently enough.
Pigment stones tend to form in people with liver cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, or hereditary blood disorders like sickle cell anemia where the liver produces too much bilirubin, although the exact cause of pigment stones is unknown.
Another factor that contributes to the development of gallstones, particularly cholesterol stones, is the mere presence of gallstones, which may lead to the development of more gallstones.
- SexGallstones are twice as common in women as they are in men, and excessive estrogen from pregnancy, HRT, and birth control pills appears to raise bile cholesterol levels and slow down gallbladder movement.
- Family historyGallstones are a common family disease, suggesting a possible genetic connection.
- WeightObesity is a major risk factor for gallstones, especially in women. A large clinical study revealed that being even moderately overweight increases the risk for developing gallstones.
- DietGallstones are more likely to form as a result of increased bile cholesterol and decreased gallbladder emptying in diets high in fat and cholesterol and low in fiber.
- Rapid weight lossThe liver secretes extra cholesterol into bile, which can lead to gallstones, as the body metabolizes fat during prolonged fasting and rapid weight loss like crash diets. In addition, the gallbladder does not empty properly.
- EthnicityIn fact, American Indians have the highest rate of gallstones in the country, with the majority of American Indian men developing gallstones by the age of 60, and 70 percent of Pima Indian women developing gallstones by the age of 30. Mexican American men and women of all ages also have high rates of gallstones.
- Cholesterol-lowering drugsThe amount of cholesterol secreted into bile is increased by drugs that lower blood cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of gallstones.
- DiabetesTriglycerides, which are fatty acids, are typically found in high concentrations in people with diabetes and may increase the risk of gallstones.
RISK FACTOR OF GALLSTONES
Gallstones may affect a number of people.
- women, especially those who are expecting, take birth control pills, or use hormone replacement therapy.
- People over age 60
- American Indians
- Mexican Americans
- men and women who are obese
- Folks who fast or drop a lot of weight quickly
- Gallstones have a history in their families.
- People with diabetes
- users of cholesterol-lowering medications
SYMPTOMS OF GALLSTONES
The symptoms of a blocked bile duct are frequently referred to as a gallbladder attack because they occur suddenly, frequently follow fatty meals, and may happen at night. A typical attack can cause one or more of the following symptoms: a gallbladder attack can also cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Right upper abdominal pain that is constant, quickly worsening, and lasting anywhere between 30 minutes and several hours
- Back discomfort between the shoulder blades
- suffering from right shoulder pain
A gallbladder attack may pass as gallstones move, but if a blockage persists, our gallbladder can become infected and rupture. If someone believes they have experienced a gallbladder attack, they should contact their doctor.
Anyone exhibiting any of the following signs ought to consult a physician right away.
- 5 hours or more of persistent pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- even a mild fever or chills
- skin tone or eye whites that are yellow-colored
- Clay-colored stools
Silent stones, which are common and do not affect the function of the gallbladder, liver, or pancreas, and are not treated, are gallstones that cause no symptoms in their sufferers.
DIAGNOSIS OF GALLSTONES
Gallstones are frequently found during examinations for other medical conditions, so when they are thought to be the source of symptoms, a doctor will likely perform
- an ultrasound examthe most accurate and targeted examination for gallstones.
- Computerized tomography (CT) scanThe CT scan is a non-invasive x-ray that creates cross-section images of the body and can reveal gallstones or complications like infection and gallbladder or bile duct rupture.
- Cholescintigraphy (HIDA scan)The test is used to diagnose abnormal gallbladder contraction or obstruction of the bile ducts and involves injecting a small amount of non-harmful radioactive material into the patient’s body.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)Bile duct stones can be found and removed using ERCP.
- Blood testsBlood examinations may be carried out to check for indications of obstruction, infection, pancreatitis, or jaundice.
HOMEOPATHY TREATMENT OF GALLSTONES
- Calcarea carbonica: Useful forGall stones are for slow, tense, overweight people with high cholesterol and triglyceride deposits.
- Chelidonium: Useful for gallstone whenEither the right shoulder blade or the upper right abdomen is the site of the pain, which may appear in either of the two patterns and radiate to the back.
- Lycopodium:When a patient may typically experience biliary colic in the late afternoon, this medication is advised in cases where there is a family history of kidney and gall bladder stones, as well as other complications like chronic digestive problems, high cholesterol, gastric issues, constipation, peptic ulcers, gas, and bloating.
- Natrum sulphuricum:Useful for gall stone which may accompanied withGiven to patients who are overly sensitive to changes in humidity and weather, this medication is used to treat conditions such as chronic diarrhea, gallstone pain, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, obesity, and joint problems.
- Nux vomica: Beneficial for patients who experience nausea, colic pains, spasmodic pains, acid reflux, heartburn, gas, and bloating, as well as when they consume an excessive amount of rich and fatty foods and beverages.
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