Gallstones are hardened clumps of digestive fluid that develop in your gallbladder. These clumps or stones may be the size of a golf ball or they may be as small as a grain of sand. They may occur as a single large stone or many small ones.

Symptoms

In many cases, gallstones may not cause any signs or symptoms. However, if symptoms develop, they are likely to continue and may even worsen over time.

The most common symptom of gallstones is pain in the upper right area of the stomach. These stomach pains may last a few minutes, but is not uncommon for these pains to last for a few hours.

Gallstone Prevention

Researchers believe that diet is one of the main causes of gallstones. People who are overweight are more likely to develop gallstones than people who are at a healthy weight. However, if you choose a weight loss program, be aware that loosing weight quickly increases the risk of developing gallstones.

How Can Weight Loss Cause Gallstones?

Research suggests that when a person diets, it may cause the balance of bile salts and cholesterol to shift in the gall bladder. The bile salts are decreased and the cholesterol level is increased. Research also indicates that not eating for an extended period of time may decrease the gallbladder contractions. When a gallbladder does not contract often enough to empty out the bile this may cause gallstones to form.

Treatment Options For Gallstones

Medications - Patients that have gallstones may take oral medications prescribed by their doctor to dissolve gallstones. However, this treatment may take months or even more than a year. There is also an experimental procedure where medication is injected directly into the gall bladder. These medications for gallstones aren't commonly used, they are mainly prescribed for people who cannot undergo gallbladder surgery.

Surgery - If you have gallstones, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove your gallbladder. After your gallbladder is taken away, bile will flow directly from your liver into your small intestine, Having your gallbladder removed will not affect your ability to digest food. However, patients who have had their gallbladder removed may experience more frequent diarrhea.

If you are overweight and want to bring your body to a normal weight, you should remember that it is always better to lose weight slowly. One reason being, that when weight is lost quickly it usually returns quickly. Also, loosing weight slowly may be a key factor in gallstones-prevention. Always discuss significant changes in diet with your doctor.

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