Gallbladder stones
Description of Gallbladder stones
Definition of Gall Stones
The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ under the liver. It stores bile, a fluid made by your liver to digest fat. As the stomach and intestines digest food, the gallbladder releases bile through a tube called the common bile duct. The duct connects the gallbladder and liver to the small intestine.
Signs and Symptoms of Gall Stones
Common symptoms of gall stone are:
1. Nausea
2. Vomiting
3. Pain in the abdomen
4. Pain in the back
5. Pain under the right arm
Causes and Risk Factors of Gall Stones
Gallstones form when bile, stored in the gallbladder, hardens. Gallstones are most common amongst:
1. Older adults
2. Women
3. Overweight people
Investigations
1. Gallstones are often found during imaging tests.
2. If you do not have symptoms, you usually do not need treatment.
Treatment of Gall Stones
The most common treatment is the removal of the gallbladder. Fortunately, one can live without a gallbladder.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Frequently Asked Questions about Gallbladder stones
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