What are Gallstones?
To understand how gallstones form and how to get rid of them, we first need to know a few things about the gallbladder. The gallbladder is an organ that stores a greenish or yellowish liquid called bile, which helps digest lipids and other fatty substances in food. Bile is made by liver cells, and is made up of six important components:
- Water
- Bile pigments (bilirubin diglucoronoide)
- Bile salts (sodium taurocholate and sodium glychocolate)
- Cholesterol
- Bile acids (cholate and chenodeoxycholate)
- Bicarbonates
Gallstones, also called choleliths, form when the solid ingredients of bile settle, join together, and form solid masses that obstruct the free and normal flow of bile. There are three kinds of gallstones:
Cholesterol stones are usually greenish in color, although some can be whitish or yellowish.
Mixed stones are the most common kind of gallstones, and are made from a mixture of cholesterol and other substances found in bile.
A third kind of “gallstone,” called pseudolithiasis, is made from semi-solidified secretions from the bile ducts and clog up the gallbladder. Pseudolithiases are not gallstones, although they are still dangerous and painful. Gallstones can be as small as a grain of sand, or as big as a pebble. Some gallstones can grow up or accumulate to occupy the whole space inside the gallbladder.
Causes and Symptoms
Gallstones are caused by many factors. If your family has a history of the disease, then there's a good chance that you can develop the disease. Overweight people also are at a higher risk of forming gallstones than people who maintain the ideal body weight. Eating an excessive amount of fatty, greasy, or salty foods rich in bad cholesterol can put you at an even higher risk of developing gallstones. Women are also more prone to developing gallstones, as well as those above the age of 40.
Some people with small, microscopic gallstones do not exhibit symptoms of a serious gallbladder problem. If you suffer from these symptoms, then you may have a serious, perhaps even life-threatening, gallstone situation:
- Prolonged, constant, dull pain radiating from the liver to the spine (usually lasts for four hours or more)
- A stabbing pain at the pit of your stomach after eating a fatty or cholesterol-rich meal
- Jaundiced, yellowish skin or eyeballs
- Fever, nausea and vomiting
- Clay, pale-looking stool
- Irregular bowel movement.
Get Medical Attention
Some people choose to “ride out” their gallstone problems, and think that they will dissolve on their own. Don't be fooled; a gallbladder laden with multiple gallstones or a single heavy gallstone can inflame and burst. Once this happens, the bile and the gallstones would leach into your abdomen, and cause infection, blood poisoning, and certain death. As soon as you experience the first symptoms of gallstones, it's important for you to seek medical attention the soonest you can.
Medical and Surgical Procedures
Modern hospitals and clinics are equipped with some of the most effective ways to get rid of gallstones. There are three common ways to get rid of gallstones: oral medicines, lithrotripsy, and cholecystectomy.
- Ursodeoxycholic acid is a medicine that is not used frequently today. The acids and the active ingredients in the pill help dissolve the gallstones, but it may take two to three years to completely remove the gallstones. Gallstones may also recur if the treatment is discontinued.
- Lithotripsy is a common way to treat small, multiple gallstones. In this procedure, a machine called a lithotriptor uses a focused pulse of high-intensity sound waves to smash and break apart the stones into smaller, more manageable parts. The stones, some now smaller than grains of sand, can then pass through the gallbladder duct and out the body as feces.
- Cholecystectomy, or the surgical removal of the gallbladder, is performed in extreme cases. The most common of cholecystectomy performed today is a procedure called laparoscopic cholecystectomy, where three or four small punctures are made in the abdomen to aid in the removal of the gallbladder.
It's important for a physician to diagnose the kind of gallstones you have before prescribing any treatment. Medical and surgical procedures are expensive, although some health insurance policies may cover the cost of the treatment. Check your health insurance provider to see if they have options to cover the cost of the treatment.
Alternative Remedies: The Gallstone Flush
Some people swear by a gallstone treatment regimen that does not require hospital visits or surgery. The “gallstone flush” consists of the following ingredients and techniques:
- Drink four glasses of pure apple juice (either buzzed in a juicer or bought from the store)
- Eat five apples a day for five days; this will serve as your meal for two to three days
- Supplement your diet with multivitamins and magnesium sources
- Drink two liters of a juice made from warm water, fresh lemons, and extra virgin olive oil.
The “flush” claims to dissolve gallstones, although there is yet to be a scientifically-proven truth to the claim. While there's no harm in trying this remedy, it's still best to leave gallstone treatment to qualified health care professionals.
How to Prevent Gallstones
Gallstones can be caused by genetics, but gallstones caused by an unhealthy diet and an unhealthy lifestyle can easily be prevented:
- Eat a balanced diet low in fat and cholesterol, and rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Maintain your ideal body weight.
- Eat meals rich in fiber like whole grains. Fish is a great source of magnesium, which can help prevent gallstones.
If you have gallstones, you should definitely feel galled. A quick trip to the doctor, some surgery, and a healthy and balanced diet are all you need to get rid of the bad gall that forms at the very pit of your stomach.
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