Gallstones
Gallstones are hardened concretions of digestive juices that can form in the gallbladder. Your gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of your abdomen, under your liver The gallbladder stores bile, one of the digestive juices Bile passes into the small intestine
Pebble sizes range from a grain of sand to the size of a golf ball Some people may have only one stone, while others may have many at the same time
Gall bladder stones are common in America People who develop symptoms due to gallstones may need surgery to remove the primary gallbladder Stones that do not cause signs or symptoms generally do not require treatment
It is not known what causes gallstones to form Doctors think gallstones occur when:
- Your bile contains too much cholesterol Normally, bile contains enough substances to break down cholesterol produced by the liver, but if your liver produces more cholesterol than the bile can break down, the excess cholesterol can form crystals and eventually stones.
- Your bile contains excess bilirubin Bilirubin is a substance produced by the breakdown of red blood cells in the body Some conditions cause the liver to produce too much bilirubin These include cirrhosis of the liver, infection of the bile duct, and some blood disorders Excess bilirubin contributes to the formation of gallstones
- Your gallbladder is not emptying properly If your gallbladder doesn't empty completely or often enough, the bile can become concentrated and contribute to the formation of gallstones.
Types of gall bladder stones The types of gall bladder stones are:
- Cholesterol stones The most common type of stone, cholesterol stones, are often yellow in color. The main constituent of these stones is insoluble cholesterol, although they may also contain other substances.
- Pigment stones These dark brown or black stones form when your bile contains too much bilirubin
Gallstones may cause no signs or symptoms If the stone becomes lodged in the duct and causes a blockage, signs and symptoms may develop These are:
- Sudden and rapidly increasing pain in the upper right abdomen
- Sudden and rapidly increasing pain in the center of the abdomen, under the breastbone
- Pain between the rings
- Pain in the right shoulder
Pain caused by gallstones can last from a few minutes to a few minutes.
When to see a doctor Make an appointment with your doctor if you have signs and symptoms that worry you
Get medical help right away if you have signs or symptoms of serious complications from gallstones, such as:
- Abdominal pain that is so severe that you cannot stop in one place or find a comfortable position
- Yellowing of the skin and sclera of the eyes
- High fever with chills
