Knowing Gallstones Symptoms
Gallstones refer to the stones formed in the bile within the gall bladder. They are caused by undigested fluid that may have accumulated in the gall bladder thereby forming calcified stones. Some people suffer from gallstones but do not know whether they have it. This is because they do not know the symptoms. If you fall under those people who do not know about this condition, here are some gallstone symptoms that are common.
Gallstone symptom #1: Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is a common symptom of gallstones. This pain begins when a stone enters and lodge in the bile duct that connects the liver and gall bladder. The pain is more severe on the right side of the abdomen and below the liver. As long as the stone remains in the bile duct, the pain intensifies. Therefore, such kind of pain may be one of gallstone symptoms.
Gallstone symptom #2: Jaundice
Jaundice refers to a condition where your skin and eyes turn yellow in color. This is a very dangerous symptom, especially when it develops as a reaction to a gallstone. This condition implies that your liver is not functioning properly. When the liver malfunctions, it becomes toxic leading to other toxic-related problems. It is recommended to seek medical attention as soon as you start seeing these signs.
Gallstone symptom #3: Back Pain
Back pain is also among the gallstone symptoms. If the pain is located between the blades of your shoulders or along the spinal cord, it may signify that you are suffering from gallstones. The pain is caused by a stone that has entered and lodged in the bile duct and may last for a few minutes or several hours.
Gallstone symptom #4: Chronic Flatulence
Chronic Flatulence is another symptom of gallstones. You may experience this soon after eating fatty foods. The flatulence makes you produce a very strong odor and may also cause bouts of diarrhea. So if you experience such chronic flatulence several times after consuming fatty foods, you need to go for a gallstone check-up.
You may also develop some serious indigestion which is a major cause of bloating. However, it is advisable to consult your doctor whenever you experience these symptoms. This is because there are other conditions with similar signs.
Gallstone symptom #5: Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and Vomiting are some of the serious gallstone symptoms that you can ever experience. When you experience these signs accompanied by other signs of gallstones mentioned above, immediate medical attention must be sought. This is because it may be an indication that this disease has advanced dangerously.
Other gallstone symptoms that you are likely to experience are fever, Restlessness, and producing stool that looks like clay in color. These are some of the common symptoms that may help you discover whether you have gallstones or not. However, is advisable to consult your doctor for clarification because some of the symptoms are similar to other conditions. For those people who suffer from silent gallstone which has no signs and symptoms, the regular test will help them discover whether they have the disease.
What May Have to Lead To Your Gallstone Symptoms
Gallstones are tiny stones that form in the gall bladder and are made of bile salts, cholesterol, and calcium salts. It is one of the common disorders on the digestive system, affecting around 15 percent of people above 50 years. There are different types of gall stones and each type is caused due to a different cause.
Gallstone causes and their types:
Cholesterol gall stones and their causes
This type of gallstone is due to excess quantities of cholesterol in the bile. Normally, the liver secretes two chemical substances, bile acids, and lecithin, which dissolve the excess cholesterol that is excreted by the liver. But, in case, the liver excretes more cholesterol than the bile can actually dissolve, then they may form into crystals and then grow in size, and develops into gallstones.
There are also two other processes that cause cholesterol gallstones.
- An abnormal rapid formation and growth of cholesterol crystals into gallstones
- Reduced contraction and emptying of the gallbladder, which allows the bile to stay long in the gall bladder providing more time for the cholesterol crystals to grow and develop into gallstones.
Pigment gallstones and their causes
Pigment gallstones are small, and brown or black in color. Pigments are waste products of hemoglobin. When hemoglobin gets destroyed, it converts itself into a pigment called bilirubin, which is converted by the liver into modified bilirubin. Excess bilirubin in the bile may lead to pigment gallstones. Pigment gallstones may be caused by some medical condition which includes:
- Hemolytic anemia: This is a condition caused by the deficiency of red blood cells and leads to the formation of pigment gallstones, which are usually black in color. When the RBCs are destroyed, they release a pigment called bilirubin, which gives the typical black color to the gallstones.
- E.coli infection: Research studies shows that people suffering from pigment gallstones have a large concentration of E.coli in their bile. So it is widely understood that E.coli may cause pigment gallstones.
- Sickle cell anemia: It is a genetic disorder, where the red blood cells become sickle or crescent shape, and gets easily broken while traveling through blood vessels. This leads to the release of bilirubin pigments that accumulate in the gallbladder to form gallstones.
- Liver Cirrhosis: Liver cirrhosis may cause the liver to secrete more bilirubin, which gets accumulated in the gall bladder to form gallstones.
Other types of gall stones and their causes:
Other forms of gall stones are very rare. Some of them may be caused due to the following conditions.
- Antibiotic Ceftriaxone: This antibiotic gets eliminated from the body in the bile in high concentrations and combines with the calcium in bile and becomes insoluble. These insoluble particles form crystals and eventually develop into gallstones. But once the antibiotic use is terminated, the gallstones also disappear.
- Calcium carbonate may be another cause for the formation of gallstones.
Gallstones are quite common in women than in men. Also, people who are obese and have a family history of gallstones are at more risk of developing gallstones. Identifying the exact gallstone causes will help to take corrective and remedial steps immediately. It is always best to consult your doctor with any gallstone symptoms.
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