What Are Gallstones?
Gallstones are hardened pieces of material that form inside the gallbladder, a small organ located beneath the liver. The gallbladder stores bile, a digestive fluid that helps break down fats during digestion.
Some gallstones are as small as grains of sand, while others can grow much larger. Many people never know they have gallstones because they may not cause symptoms. Problems can happen when a stone blocks the normal flow of bile.
Gallstones form when substances in bile become unbalanced. This may happen if bile contains too much cholesterol or bilirubin, or if the gallbladder does not empty completely.
Several factors can increase the risk of developing gallstones, including:
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Rapid weight loss
- A high-fat or low-fiber diet
- Family history of gallstones
- Increasing age
- Liver disease or certain blood disorders
Symptoms
Gallstones may stay silent for years, but when they block a bile duct, symptoms can appear suddenly. These symptoms are sometimes called a gallbladder attack.
Common symptoms include:
- Pain in the upper right side or center of the abdomen
- Pain that spreads to the back or right shoulder
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever or chills
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Pale or clay-colored stools
How Is It Diagnosed?
Healthcare providers diagnose gallstones by reviewing your symptoms, medical history, and performing a physical exam. Imaging tests are often used to confirm the diagnosis.
An ultrasound is the most common test because it can clearly show gallstones in the gallbladder. Blood tests may also help identify infection, inflammation, or problems involving the liver or bile ducts.
In some cases, additional imaging such as CT scans, MRI-based testing, or procedures like ERCP may be needed to look for blockages or complications.
How Is It Treated?
Treatment depends on whether gallstones are causing symptoms. Gallstones that do not cause problems may only need monitoring.
When symptoms occur, treatment usually starts with managing pain and preventing complications. The most common long-term treatment is surgery to remove the gallbladder, called a cholecystectomy. This procedure is often done laparoscopically using small incisions, which can shorten recovery time.
If gallstones are blocking the bile ducts, a procedure called ERCP may be used to remove them without major surgery. In certain situations, medications may help dissolve stones, though this approach is less common and can take a long time to work.
Most people recover well after treatment and can live normally without a gallbladder.
