Gallstones

Gallstones: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments and How Eastern Medicine Can Help Gallstones are extremely common in developed, mostly western countries. It’s estimated that around 6 percent of men and 9 percent of women have gallstones in the U.S., likely driven by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors – with diet foremost among them. A cholesterol-rich Western diet, for example, accelerates stone growth because about 75 percent of all stones are caused by cholesterol deposits. For the majority of these people, their gallstones are asymptomatic. In other words, they don’t cause pain or any other symptoms. Occasionally, though, gallstones can cause complications, including severe complications that merit emergency treatment. This is typically the case when stones block bile from flowing out of the gallbladder or bile ducts. When a patient does present with gallstone-related complications, there are a few treatment options that doctors can deploy. Some of these are western, allopathic treatments that people associate with mainstream medicine. There are also eastern, osteopathic modalities that can also help – without the need for medication or surgery. Gallstone presentation and treatment is highly individual to the patient. As such, it’s always important to consult with a trusted physician before deciding on the right course of treatment. What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Gallstone Complications? The majority of people with gallstones will never experience symptoms. They may live their entire life without ever knowing that they have one (or more, as some patients form many gallstones). However, if a gallstone does cause an attack, the symptoms may include: Acute, intensifying pain in the upper right or center part of the abdomen. In some cases, this pain may be mistaken for cardiac problems, which often present with chest pain. Back pain, usually centered between the shoulder blades. Pain in the right shoulder may also be present. Nausea or vomiting. Some patients may only experience one or a few gallbladder attacks during their life, but once someone has an attack, they’re more likely to develop future attacks. When gallbladder attacks and their symptoms become a regular concern, the patient may be diagnosed with biliary colic. Unlike the standard presentation of colic, though, biliary colic tends to produce enduring, dull pain instead of acute, sharp pain – though biliary colic can certainly produce intense pain. Serious Complications May Arise from Gallstones if They Aren’t Treated If gallstones do not obstruct the flow of bile out of the gallbladder or bile ducts, serious complications are rare. However, if there is a stone-related obstruction, severe medical issues may arise that demand emergency attention. Those complications include: Cholecystitis – Cholecystitis is the medical term for gallbladder inflammation and swelling. It occurs when bile is trapped in the gallbladder, usually the result of a solid stone blockage. Other causes include scarring or viral infections.Cholecystitis produces severe pain in patients. Also, with time, the gallbladder will be more prone to infection. Additional symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal tenderness, fever, chills, and jaundice. Pain is usually worse after eating a fat-rich meal. Choledocholithiasis – When a gallstone descends into the common bile duct, it’s termed choledocholithiasis. The common bile duct is where liver and gallbladder bile ducts join up, so it’s the primary bile highway.Gallstones in the common bile duct don’t always cause symptoms. When they do, those symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and jaundice. Gallstone pancreatitis –