How we live, the things we eat, and the way we take care of our bodies, all are contributing factors to how our bodies and health react.
The kinds of illnesses and diseases we face are a result of our everyday decisions. Have you ever wondered why people have gallstones? What causes them and how would they know if they have them?
Here is all you need to know about gallstones.
The Mayo Clinic defines gallstones as “Hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder.” A gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ beneath the liver, which stores digestive fluid released into the small intestine, according to the clinic.
Several factors play a part in the development of gallstones, these are a few causes:
Excessive cholesterol: The Cleveland Clinic states that excess cholesterol in the blood affects the balance of lipids and acids in bile, as the liver extracts it to create bile. “Bile needs a balance of lipids and acids to hold all the ingredients together. Any excess will fall by the wayside.”
Insufficient bile salts: Certain diseases cause bile acid malabsorption, resulting in a loss of bile salts in the faeces, which causes an excess of cholesterol in the bile, explains Cleveland. “If you lose too many, your liver won’t have enough left to make bile with. The lack of bile acids creates an excess of lipids (cholesterol) in your bile.”
Too much bilirubin in your bile: According to Healthline, bilirubin, produced during red blood cell breakdown, can be excessively produced due to liver damage or blood disorders, leading to pigment gallstones, and hard, dark brown or black stones. “Some conditions, such as liver damage and certain blood disorders, cause your liver to produce more bilirubin than it should. Pigment gallstones form when your gallbladder can’t break down the excess bilirubin.”
These are the indicators that could mean you have gallstone and you need to act fast. These ware according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases:
- Long-lasting abdominal pain.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Low-grade fever or chills
- Jaundice: yellow skin or white eyes
- Tea-coloured urine and light-coloured stools.
Also see: How to prevent and treat liver disease
