How To Treat Gallstones - Causes Symptoms And Treatment

Gallstones are hard masses of digestive fluids that develop in the gallbladder. This is a common disorder affecting a large number of people. Gallstones are mainly of two types, gallstones formed from cholesterol and stones made of bilirubin. Cholesterol gallstones are the most commonly found form of gallstones. They occur more in overweight people, pregnant women, older people, and in those who lose weight rapidly. Bilirubin gallstones are more common in people with severe liver disease and in those who have blood conditions like leukemia or sickle cell anemia. Options for how to treat gallstones include removal of gallbladder and medications.

There is no clear idea about what causes gallstones, but it is believed that excessive amount of cholesterol or bilirubin in bile can contribute to the formation of gallstones. Incomplete emptying of gallbladder is another factor that may lead to gallstones. Risk factors that increase the likelihood of gallstones include family history, age above 60 years, obesity, diabetes, inactive lifestyle, liver diseases, and use of cholesterol-lowering medications. Consuming a low-fiber, high-fat, or high-cholesterol diet can also raise the chances of gallstones. Moreover, women are more likely to develop gallstones than men.

Gallstones can be without any symptoms. This condition, known as silent gallstones, does not require treatment. However, a gallstone that blocks a duct can cause many symptoms, including sudden and rapidly escalating pain in the right side of upper abdomen, pain in the right shoulder or between the shoulder blades, nausea, and vomiting. If a gallstone obstructs the gallbladder duct, it can result in cholecystitis or inflammation of the gallbladder. Cholecystitis may cause protracted pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. A gallstone can sometimes cause obstruction to the common bile duct, which in turn may lead to the infection of the bile duct and jaundice. Likewise, blockage of pancreas by a gallstone can cause pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas.

How To Treat Gallstones: Gallstones that cause symptoms is typically treated with surgical removal of gallbladder. Nowadays, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is widely used to remove gallbladder. Gallstones stuck in the bile duct can be removed by a non-surgical procedure, known as Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Medications that can dissolve gallstones are also available but not widely used. Electrohydraulic shock wave lithotripsy a noninvasive technique for treating stones may be used to treat gallstones in people who cannot have surgery.

There are some herbal remedies that are helpful in how to treat gallstones. Lecithin is a good natural cure for gallstones. Take one lecithin capsule (1200 mg) one time daily along with meals. Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods and cut down the intake of foods that contain bad cholesterol and saturated fat. Vitamin C helps in the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids and thereby dissolves gallstones. Take vitami
C supplements and eat foods that are rich in this vitamin. Drinking adzuki beans tea regularly is also an effective way to remove gallstones. Squeeze juice out of two lemons and add it to two cups of extra virgin olive oil. Take two tablespoons of this mixture every fifteen minutes. This is one of the best methods to flush out gallstones.