The gallbladder releases bile into the small intestine to help digest food. Gallstones form when substances in bile, such as cholesterol and bilirubin, harden. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, around 10% to 15% of people in the U.S. have gallstones.

Five common gallstone symptoms are:

• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain in your upper back
• Pain in the upper right abdomen
• Pain that lasts for several hours

If you experience symptoms that last longer than a few hours, you may need to contact your healthcare provider.

Causes of Gallstones

Gallstones form when bile has too much cholesterol or bilirubin. Your risk for gallstones goes up as you age, and women are more likely to get gallstones than men. Other factors that increase your risk include:

• Being overweight or obese
• Being pregnant
• Eating a diet high in fat
• Having a family history of gallstones
• Having diabetes
• Losing weight rapidly
• Taking birth control pills

Treatment for Gallstones

Some people may have gallstones and not even know it. These kinds of gallstones are known as “silent” gallstones. If gallstones are not causing any symptoms, treatment may not be necessary.

The most common treatment for gallstones is to remove the gallbladder. The gallbladder isn’t an essential organ, and without it, bile will flow directly out of the liver instead of being stored in the gallbladder.

Other treatment options include:

• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)—For this procedure, providers use an upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscope and x-rays to break up or remove gallstones.
• Medications to dissolve gallstones—These medications may not be appropriate for everyone and can take two years to work.
• Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy—During this procedure, a provider breaks up gallstones using shock waves, energized waves of pressure created by a machine called a lithotripter.

How to Prevent Gallstones

You can take steps to reduce your risk of gallstones, including:

• Avoid losing weight too rapidly if you are overweight or obese.
• Avoid sugar and refined grains, such as white rice, white bread and white flour.
• Avoid very low-calorie diets.
• Eat a diet high in fiber and healthy fats found in food such as fish and olive oil. Healthy fats help your gallbladder empty on a regular basis.
• Maintain a healthy weight.

If you have gallstone symptoms, discuss them with your primary care provider, who can help determine if gallbladder surgery at Magnolia Regional Health Center would help you.