Effective treatments for gallstones (full sample)
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Gallstones are a common medical problem, especially for people over the age of 40. Fortunately, there are a number of effective treatments that can treat gallstones. In this article, we'll explore what causes gallstones and find out about the available treatment options.
Areas of expertise
Gallstones are a relatively common medical complaint. They are caused by a buildup of substances in the gallbladder and can cause some pain and discomfort if left untreated. Fortunately, there are several effective ways to treat gallstones and in this article we'll explore the most common techniques.
What causes gallstones?
Bile is a substance naturally produced by the liver to aid digestion. Gallstones are the result of some of the substances in the bile forming together into clumps. These insoluble chemicals can include calcium, cholesterol and bilirubin.
These clumps, or gallstones, typically form in the gallbladder itself, just below the liver, although they can also form in the bile duct. The medical name for stones located in the gallbladder is cholecystolithiasis whereas the term for stones in the bile duct is choledocholithiasis.
How common are gallstones?
After the age of 40, gallstones become more common, with about a fifth of women and a tenth of men having the condition. Around 80% of people with gallstones may not even be aware that they have the condition as they will not feel any pain or have any other symptoms.
Fortunately, if gallstones do not cause discomfort, they do not need to be treated as they are otherwise harmless and will probably go away by themselves. If someone with gallstones does start to experience pain then they should see a doctor as the gallstones may need to be treated to avoid further complications.
What treatments are available for gallstones?
There are several techniques that can be used to treat gallstones.
Wait and see if the gallstones go away by themselves - Although having gallstones can be painful, they will often dissolve and go away by themselves in 30-50% of cases. In most of these cases, the patient will not have a recurrence, so no further treatment is needed. If it is a patient's first incident of gallstones, many doctors will choose not to do anything other than prescribe pain medication, preferring to see if the issue resolves itself.
Using a bile salt to dissolve the stones - Patients can take bile salt medications, typically the drug Actigall (ursodiol). In some cases, gallstones could take months or years to dissolve completely and recurrence of gallstones is common if the patient stops taking the drug.
Shock-wave therapy to dissolve the stones - A specialist can use dedicated equipment that produces sound-waves to break down and dissolve the gallstones.
Contact dissolution surgery - A surgeon will insert a tube through the abdomen, into the gallbladder. They can then inject a drug to dissolve the gallstones directly through the tube. This can break gallstones down quickly.
Removal of the gallbladder - If a person's gallstone problem is persistent and painful, or their gallstones cause other complications, a doctor may recommend surgery to remove the gallbladder. This is an extremely common procedure and although a person may need to make changes to their diet following the surgery, they can lead a full and healthy life without a gallbladder.
In closing
Gallstones and the symptoms they cause are very common. Fortunately, there are a number of well-developed techniques for dealing with them. If you suspect you may be suffering from gallstones, your doctor will be able to work with you to help you decide on the most effective treatment.
Content originally written by Paul Maplesden, a freelance writer, and edited by me.