Content

• Steps
• Warning

Gallstones form in the gallbladder and bile ducts, the two organs used by the body to distribute digestive enzymes. When there are abnormalities, gallstones will appear in and around the gallbladder. These stones are several millimeters to several centimeters in diameter and usually cause no symptoms.Gallstones are caused by many factors, such as metabolism, genetics, immune system, and the environment. Gallstones diagnosis is based on the underlying signs and diseases that cause gallstones. However, you need to see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Recognizing the symptoms of gallstones

1. 

   Note that gallstones often have no symptoms. They can last for many years without affecting the body. Most patients do not notice symptoms with gallstones; in fact, only 5 to 10% of them develop gallstones. This makes it difficult to see if you have a gallstone, so it's important to see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
   • Only less than 50% of people with gallstones detected their symptoms.

2. 

   
   
   Recognize abdominal pain caused by gallstones. People with gallstones may experience prolonged or epigastric pain in the upper right abdomen. In addition, severe pain, nausea and vomiting may occur. Biliary colic usually lasts more than 15 minutes and can sometimes turn to back pain.
   • Patients will often experience biliary colic after the first. In addition, biliary colic often occurs and disappears. You will only feel pain a few times a year.
   • This symptom can be confused with gastrointestinal or common colic.
   • If you suspect that you have abdominal pain from gallstones, you should see your doctor.

3. 

   
   
   Notice how it feels after eating a large or fatty meal. Look for colic and / or biliary colic after eating a full or fatty meal, such as a breakfast with a lot of bacon and sausage or a big holiday meal. These are the times when you are more likely to experience pain and / or biliary colic.
   • In some patients, mild biliary colic, with no signs of infection, can resolve without medication.

4. 

   
   
   Watch for severe abdominal pain spreading to the back or shoulders. This is the main symptom of cholecystitis, often caused by gallstones. The pain usually becomes more intense with a sigh.
   • You may experience pain between your shoulder blades and especially in your right shoulder.

5. 

   Recognize the symptoms of a fever. Gallbladder inflammation is more severe than biliary colic, and fever is the most accurate way to distinguish two symptoms based on severity. You should seek immediate medical attention if you suspect that you have cholecystitis.
   • Inflammation occurs in about 20% of patients, and the incidence is higher in people with diabetes.
   • Inflammation can lead to gangrene and perforation of the gallbladder.
   • Jaundice is also often accompanied by a fever. They cause sclera and jaundice.
   advertisement

Part 2 of 4: Understanding your risk factors

1. 

   Note the effect of age. The older you get, the greater your risk of getting gallstones. In fact, the most susceptible age for gallstones is between sixty and seventy.

2. 

   Understand gender factors. Women are more likely to have gallstones than men with 2-3: 1 incidence. Among women who reach the age of 60, about 25% of them will develop gallstones. This imbalance is caused by the effect of the female hormone estrogen. Estrogen stimulates the liver to secrete cholesterol, and many types of gallstones are made up of cholesterol.
   • Women taking hormone replacement drugs have an increased risk of gallstones due to estrogen. Hormonal therapy can double or triple the risk of developing gallstones. Likewise, birth control pills also lead to gallstones due to their hormonal effects.

3. 

   Know if pregnancy is risky. During pregnancy you are more likely to get gallstones. Pregnant women are also at greater risk of experiencing the symptoms described above compared with normal women.
   • Consult your doctor if you suspect biliary colic or cholecystitis.
   • Gallstones may go away after birth without surgery or medicine.

4. 

   Recognize genetic factors. The Nordic and Hispanic groups are two ethnic groups at high risk of gallstones eye disease. Several indigenous American races, especially the tribes of Peru and Chile, are susceptible to gallstones.
   • Family history may also matter. You are at high risk if a family member has gallstones. However, studies have not yet verified this risk factor.

5. 

   Consider your medical history. Talk to your doctor if you have intestinal inflammation, cirrhosis or blood disorders as these are possible conditions for gallstones. Organ transplantation and prolonged vein feeding can also lead to gallstones.
   • People with diabetes are also at an increased risk of developing gallstones and gallbladder disease without stones. This may be due to weight and obesity.

6. 

   Recognize that lifestyle is also a risk factor. Being overweight and following a regular fast diet is thought to increase the risk of gallstones by 12 to 30%. In obese people, the liver produces a lot of cholesterol, and about 20% of gallstones are made up of cholesterol. In general, frequent weight gain and loss can cause gallstones. People who lose more than 24% of their body weight and lose more than 1.5 kg per week are in the high-risk group.
   • In addition, a diet high in fat as well as cholesterol can cause cholesterol gallstones (the most common type of gallstones that are yellow in color).
   • If you are sedentary or stay at home frequently, you are at higher risk of developing kidney stones.

7. 

   Note that some medications can affect gallstone formation. The use of birth control pills at a young age, high estrogen replacement doses, corticosteroids or cytostatic therapy, and cholesterol-lowering medications can increase the risk of gallstones. advertisement

Part 3 of 4: Diagnosis of medical gallstones

1. 

   Conduct an abdominal ultrasound. Ultrasound is the most effective test method to diagnose and differentiate gallstones. This is a painless imaging technique in which sound waves create an image of the soft tissue inside the abdomen. A qualified technician will find gallstones in the gallbladder or bile duct.
   • This test can accurately detect gallstones in about 97% to 98% of people with the disease.
   • An ultrasound involves using a harmless device that reconstructs an image of the gallbladder by reflecting inaudible sound waves through the body. The ultrasound technician will apply the gel to your abdomen to allow sound waves to travel through your body and be detected more accurately. This usually takes 15 to 30 minutes and is painless.
   • You should not eat or drink 6 hours or more before your scan.

2. 

   Conducting computerized tomography (CT). If your doctor needs to collect still images or the ultrasound isn't giving clear results, a CT scan may be needed. A CT scan creates a cross-section of the gallbladder with a special x-ray and sends it into a computer for analysis.
   • You will lie down on a cylindrical device resembling a donut to take a 30-minute body scan. This process is fast and will not cause pain.
   • In some cases, doctors use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment instead of CT scans. The device is set up similar to a tomography and uses a variation in magnetic vibrations to accurately image the internal organs. This can take up to an hour, and you'll be in a cylindrical device.
   • CT has no major advantages over ultrasound, except that CT can recognize gallstones in the bile duct from the gallbladder to the intestines.

3. 

   Blood tests. If you suspect an infection in the abdomen, you can have a blood test called a complete blood test (CBC). This test is done when the gallbladder is severely inflamed and requires surgery. In addition, the test also finds other complications caused by gallstones in addition to inflammation, including jaundice and pancreatitis.
   • This is a standard blood test. The nurse or technician will use a fine needle to inject blood into the vial and send it to the lab to analyze the information as required by the doctor.
   • Leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein are indicators associated with acute cholecystitis, a form of cholecystitis caused by gallstones. Your doctor can check standard electrolyte levels and tables as well as a complete blood analysis.

4. 

   Conduct an upstream biliary endoscopy (ERCP). Your doctor may recommend ERCP, a technique that involves using a flexible bronchoscope about the diameter of your index finger passing through the mouth down the esophagus into the stomach and then into the duodenum to look at the bile duct and pancreas. If the doctor finds gallstones, they can be removed.
   • Give your doctor information about all medications you are taking, especially insulin, aspirin, blood pressure medications, coumadin, and heparin. These medications may cause bleeding during the test, and your doctor may order a correction in your medication habits.
   • Due to the invasive nature of this method, you will be taking medication to fall asleep, and you should bring someone with you or take you home after the test is complete.

5. 

   Exclude gallstones in liver function tests (LFT). During liver disease or cirrhosis tests, your doctor can detect gallstones by identifying an imbalance.
   • This test can be done at the same time as the blood test to make an accurate diagnosis of gallstones.
   • Your doctor will check for levels of pigment orange, liver enzymes (GGT), and alkaline phosphates. If the levels are high, you may have gallstones or another problem with your gallbladder.
   advertisement

Part 4 of 4: Preventing gallstones

1. 

   Lose weight slowly. If you want to lose weight, you shouldn't go on a fast diet. Instead, eat a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates (such as bread, pasta, and whole rice), and protein. You should only lose a maximum of 0.5 to 1 kg per week.
   • Slow and steady weight loss can reduce the risk of kidney stones.

2. 

   Limit animal fats. Butter, meat and cheese in meals can raise cholesterol and cause gallstones. Elevated fats and cholesterol contribute to cholesterol gallstones and yellow gallstones, two of the most common clinical types of gallstones.
   • Instead, choose monounsaturated fats. This fat increases the level of "good cholesterol" which helps to reduce the risk of gallstone formation. Choose olive and canola oils over saturated animal fats like butter and lard. Omega-3 fatty acids found in canola, flaxseed, and fish oils may help reduce the risk of gallstones.
   • Nuts are a source of healthy fats, and some studies suggest you can reduce your risk of getting gallstones by eating peanuts and tree beans such as pecans and almonds.

3. 

   Eat 20 to 35 grams of fiber daily. Fiber works to prevent gallstones. Foods high in fiber include legumes, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You can get enough fiber through meals every day.
   • However, you may want to consider taking a fiber supplement, such as flaxseed flour. For quicker processing, you can mix two full tablespoons of flaxseed powder into a glass of apple juice (240 ml).

4. 

   Be cautious in choosing carbohydrates. Sugar, pasta and bread can cause gallstones. Eat whole grains, fruits and vegetables to reduce the risk of kidney stones and gallbladder removal.
   • Several studies have linked high carbohydrate intake with an increased risk of gallstones. This is because carbohydrates are converted to sugar in the body.

5. 

   Drink coffee and alcohol in moderation. Some studies have shown that drinking coffee in moderation (one or two drinks a day) can reduce the risk of gallstones.
   • The caffeine in coffee stimulates gallbladder contractions and lowers cholesterol in the bile duct. However, other caffeinated beverages, such as tea and soda, do not have the same effect, according to the study.
   • Studies have shown that drinking just 30 ml of alcohol per day can reduce the risk of gallstones by 20% in some people.
   advertisement

Warning

• Don't rush to conclude that abdominal pain is caused by gallstones or gallbladder disease. Other illnesses such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis, pneumonia, appendicitis, acid reflux, urinary tract infections, diverticulitis and cardiovascular disease can also cause abdominal pain. . If you have severe stomach pain, see your doctor.