About Gallstones - Signs, Causes and Treatment

Gallstones are the part of digestive disorder which can happen at any point to anyone.It is a painful mass that develops inside the gallbladder. 

 

Excess of bilirubin and rise in cholesterol levels turns into solid deposits like pebbles or stones. It turns into cancer and thus makes the survival rate of gallbladder disease patients at 2%. 

 

This disease is not to be taken casually, it is a disorder that requires appropriate medication, care and support from the medical practitioner. Delay in the process of treatment or removal of gallstones can be disastrous by causing death.

 

It had been quite hard for researchers to find out the exact cause of development of gallstones. However, efforts are made for understanding the symptoms of asymptomatic stones in the gallbladder in the intial stage.

 

Different Sizes and Types of Gallstones

 

Size

 

Size of the stones in the gallbladder may vary as small as rice or wheat grain and then as large as golf ball

 

Types of gallstones

 

Cholesterol gallbladder stones : It is known to be as cholelithiasis. It is made from the digestive juice that turns into a hard stone like matter and that develops inside the gallbladder. 

Black pigmented gallbladder stones : Known as black stone disease, gallbladder stones turn into black in color due to the presence of bilirubin. 

Brown pigmented gallbladder stones : It develops in bile ducts as a result of deposition of calcium with cholesterol and protein. This brown color stone can also be seen in gallbladder

What are the Major Symptoms of Gallstones?

 

 

One may not see the symptoms so early. It will distinctly surface with the advancement of this disease.

 

As the deposits of cholesterol, calcium salts and biles start building up in the bile duct or gallbladder, one would suffer from various intolerating 

 

Gallstones symptoms

 

1. Vomiting 
2. Intense pain in the right shoulder
3. Perspiration
4. Pale yellow color surfacing in the eyes and skin
5. Color of the skin being grey 
6. Bloating of the stomach due to development of gas.

Which Group of People Suffer from Gallstones?

 

 

Group of people who are likely to show the problem of gallstones in their gallbladder are:

 

1. After crossing the age of 20, women are likely to suffer from this problem.
2. It is also the men at 60 and above.
3. Accumulation of excess fats.
4. Pregnancy or intake of birth control pills.
5. Too much fasting

 

Causes of Gallstones

 

 

1. It is because of the presence of excess cholesterol in the body. Bile is not able to absorb the excess cholesterol and so the cholesterol turns into stones. 
2. Bilirubin and calcium merge and form pigment stones in the gallbladder or in bile duct.
3. It happens when the gallbladder is unable to function properly. 

 

Other gallstones causes  as per medical diagnosis are: 

1. Anyone in the family was affected with stones in the gallbladder.
2. Having a low fiber diet with high cholesterol and fat.
3. Undergoing hormone replacement therapy or consuming birth control pills.
4. Suffering from dehydration causing shrinking of bile duct and that can lead to development of gallstones.
5. It is the cirrhosis of liver or anemia condition which can make gallbladder function to fail.
6. Rise in triglycerides during diabetic conditions in the gallbladder turns into stones. 
7. Asymptomatic polyps developing in the gallbladder area. It is an abnormal growth of tissue in the gallbladder.
8. Hepatitis B, jaundice or specific viral infection can cause accumulation of pigment stones.

 

Causes of gallstones as per Ayurveda

 

• Rise in pitta dosha as per the increasing consumption of alcohol, spicy and hot food items. It increases the accumulation of bile.
• Fatty and protein rich food items increase stickiness in the gallbladder area.
• Dryness arising in the gallbladder area and that's what indicates the elevation of vata dosha. That's how the person suffers from gallbladder stones.

 

Why are females more likely to suffer from gallstones ?

 

Significant causes of gallbladder stones are:

1. It happens when the estrogen and progesterone hormones are at peak levels.
2. It may happen as a result of menstrual, pregnancy and post childbirth complications.
3. During the phase of gaining and losing weight or fats.

 

Major gallstones symptoms female noted are:

 

1. Abdominal pain lasts for 1 to 5 hours.
2. Heart beat getting faster 
3. Not feeling hungry most of the time.
4. Skin and eyes turning yellow and white in color.
5. Diarrhea or loose motion

 

How Deadly Gallstones are?

 

Major complications noted with gallstones are:

 

• Severe form of pancreatitis
• Interruptive jaundice 
• Extreme level of cholecystitis

Going without any treatment for gallstones will lead to such complications.

 

When to seek clinical advice and support for gallstones?

 

As the problems of pain in the upper abdomen and right shoulder set in with further discomforting conditions in the health including sweating and vomiting, it becomes necessary to get in touch with the specialist and get medically diagnosed and treated.

 

Methods  of diagnosing gallstones 

 

• Conducting blood tests for verifying the major digestive enzymes.
• Performing ultrasonography
• By producing the images through X-rays.

 

Treatment and medication for gallstones 

 

For the recovery from cholesterol stones, you can go for oral medication. However, to get rid of pigment stones, you must use surgery. 

 

There may be possibilities of complications with the surgery of gallstones like :

 

1. Recurring stool discharge
2. Injury in the bile ducts.

 

In a non surgical way, you can choose the following advanced techniques:

 

1. ERCP: Eliminating stones from the bile duct with the help of gastrointestinal endoscopy and X-rays.
2. Oral  Medication for dissolving gallstones :  Administering bile acids based medications for breaking down gallstones into pieces. It may take months or years to gain recovery. But there may be a possibility of relapse or side effects. 

 

Ayurvedic treatment for gallstones 

 

Diabetes is one of the major diseases that can trigger gallstones, and if the disease gets controlled, so do gallstones. Dr. Madhu Amrit is one such ayurvedic blend that can help in controlling diabetes and its complications.

It is available on SKinRange online.

 

Home remedy for gallstones

 

1. Increasing the consumption of the fiber rich diet and controlling refined and high sugar.
2. Practicing regular exercise and drinking water.
3. Drinking a solution made from olive oil, herbs and any type of fruit juice. 

 

Conclusion

Development of gallstones in the area of bile duct or gallbladder is not at all good for health. Its complications can cause risk of life or death. Symptoms are found in menstruating and pregnant women and also elderly men. In asymptomatic cases, treatment may not be necessary.

 

However, the symptoms of vomiting and right abdominal pain can make you suffer a lot. Clinical assistance in the form of surgery and oral medication can reverse the sickness but can relapse and complications. It is always to take preventive measures at home with a higher fiber diet , low sugar and olive oil for lowering cholesterol and pigment gallbladder stones. 

 

F.A.Q.s

 

 

Q1. What is the main cause of gallstones?

 

Ans: It is the too much cholesterol in the blood which can cause gallstones. 

 

Q2. Are gallstones a serious problem?

 

Following consequences make gallstones dangerous. 

1. Ducts are closed due to deposition of stones in the area of gallbladder and bile duct.
2. Bile does not flow.  

 

Q3. How can I remove my gallstones?

 

Depending on the symptoms, cure for gallstones are : 

1. For removing pigment gallbladder stones, you can use surgery or oral medication.
2. Or else, you can take support of oral medication for cholesterol based gallbladder stones.
3. With consumption of a high fiber diet and low sugar.
4. Also you can buy Dr.Madhu Amrit for controlling high blood sugar. 

 

Q4. What are the first signs of having gallstones?

 

1. Intense pain in the center and upper right side of the abdomen.
2. Discomfort and vomiting tendencies.
3. Experiencing pain in the right side of the shoulder.

 

Q5. What are the 3 symptoms of gallstones?

 

1. Extreme form of pain in the upper abdomen.
2. Pain in the blades of shoulder
3. Skin turning yellow and eyes becoming more whitish and pale.