Gallstones are stones in the biliary system, the most common being gallbladder stones. This is a very common disease in the world and also a common disease in Vietnam. Understanding the disease will help us detect it early, treat it promptly and prevent it effectively.
Gallbladder: The intelligent 'coordinator' of the digestive system
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ about 7–12 cm long, located just below the liver, in the upper right abdomen. The main functions of the gallbladder include:
- Stores and concentrates bile produced continuously by the liver.
- When we eat (especially foods high in fat), the gallbladder contracts to push bile into the small intestine, helping to digest fat and absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K).
Where do gallstones come from? What types of stones are there?
Gallstones are solid “stones” formed from bile components, located in the gallbladder or bile ducts. They can range in size from a few mm to 3–4 cm, rarely larger than a quail egg. In Vietnam, there are 2 main types of gallstones:
- Cholesterol stones (majority): yellow or white, often found in obese people, women, and people who lose weight quickly.
- Pigment gallstones (less common): black or brown, often seen in people with congenital hemolytic anemia, cirrhosis, and prolonged biliary tract infections.
- Mixed gravel: is the common form, combining both cholesterol and bile pigments.
Are you at high risk? Get tested now!
High-risk groups include:
- Women (2–3 times higher risk than men)
- Age over 40
- Obesity (especially abdominal obesity)
- Have given birth many times
- Have a blood relative (parent, sibling) with gallstones
Other risk factors common in Vietnamese people:
- Losing weight too quickly (>1.5 kg/week)
- Diabetes, sedentary
- Long-term use of birth control pills or estrogen-containing drugs
- Regularly skipping breakfast, skipping meals, and eating irregularly
Body "alarm": Warning signs of gallstones
- “Silent” gravel (70–80% cases): No symptoms, only discovered by chance during a routine health ultrasound. However, silent stones still have the risk of causing complications later, so they need to be monitored regularly.
- Typical biliary colic:
- Sudden, severe pain in the right lower rib area or above the navel
- Pain radiating to the right shoulder or back
- Usually appears a few hours after a fatty meal (for example, roast duck, hot pot, fried food, etc.)
- Accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and inability to lie still
- The pain lasts for several hours and then subsides when the gallbladder stops contracting.
- Dangerous complications (require immediate hospitalization):
- Acute cholecystitis: continuous pain, high fever, abdominal distension
- Jaundice, yellow eyes due to stones falling into the common bile duct
- Acute pancreatitis due to gallstones – can be life-threatening
How to early detection gallstones?
Abdominal ultrasound is a simple, accurate method on 95%, reasonable cost and is the best way to detect gallstones today. If complications are suspected, the doctor will order additional blood tests, CT scan or MRCP.
Gallstone Treatment: When to Intervene?
- Asymptomatic stones: Only need to monitor periodically by ultrasound every 6-12 months, no intervention is needed.
- Have symptoms or complications: Cholecystectomy (laparoscopic) is the most radical and safest treatment method today.
- Advantages: Small incision, less pain, can usually be discharged within 1-3 days If there are no complications, high aesthetics.
- After gallbladder removal, most people live completely normal lives. However, some people may experience symptoms such as diarrhea or indigestion when eating a lot of fat in the early stages, because bile is no longer stored and regulated centrally. These symptoms usually improve over time.
- Non-surgical treatment (very rarely applied in Vietnam):
- Taking stone-dissolving medication (ursodeoxycholic acid): only effective for small cholesterol stones, must be taken for 1–2 years, high recurrence rate.
- Percutaneous or shock wave lithotripsy: few facilities perform, easy to relapse.
Gallstone Prevention: The Secret Is in Lifestyle!
You can significantly reduce your risk of gallstones with simple lifestyle changes:
- Maintain a reasonable weight, avoid belly fat
- Eat breakfast regularly every day, do not fast for too long
- Limit fried foods, animal fats, animal skin, and organs.
- Increase green vegetables, fruits, fiber, drink enough 2-2.5 liters of water/day. Drinking enough water helps dilute bile, reducing the risk of forming new stones.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes/day, 5 days/week
- Regular health check-ups and abdominal ultrasounds every 1-2 years (especially for women over 40 years old and people at high risk)
Message
Gallstones are not a “sentence” and can be completely prevented with a scientific lifestyle. Listen to your body! If you experience unusual pain in the upper right abdomen after a fatty meal, do not be subjective, go to the doctor immediately for timely detection and treatment.
Wishing you and your family good health!
