Symptoms of Gallstones And Who Gets Them

Before seeking treatment for gallstones, it’s important to seek a proper diagnosis. Understanding the symptoms is a great way to determine whether or not you are dealing with this common condition.

So, what are the symptoms of gallstones you need to watch out for? Here, we’ll look at both the common and uncommon symptoms to be aware of.

The Common Symptoms of Gallstones

There are some common symptoms of gallstones to watch out for, although they could also point to other conditions. However, being aware of the common symptoms can help you to determine whether or not you need to book an appointment with your doctor.

The common symptoms include:

• Pain in the upper abdomen
• Nausea/vomiting
• Unusual stools/urine

These are the most common symptoms, although it’s important to note that in many cases, there are no symptoms at all.

The most common symptom of all is pain in the upper abdomen. This can either be intermittent and mild, or it may be frequent and severe. You may also notice that the pain starts to spread to other areas of the body, such as your shoulder, chest and back.

Nausea and vomiting can be a common symptom of all kinds of gallbladder issues. Meanwhile, changes in your stools or urine can indicate a bile duct blockage. In particular, you’ll want to watch out for dark urine and light-colored stools.

These are the most common symptoms to watch out for, but what about the less common ones?

Uncommon Symptoms to Be Aware Of

There are also a few unusual symptoms of gallstones you’ll want to familiarize yourself with. These include:

• Digestive problems
• Fever and chills
• Chronic diarrhea
• Jaundice

While nausea and vomiting are common, digestive problems tend to point more towards chronic gallbladder disease. This includes acid reflux and gas.

Fever and chills can link to signs of an infection. As the gallbladder becomes inflamed from the gallstones, it can cause an infection to develop. If you have this symptom, it’s crucial to seek treatment quickly. An infection that is left untreated can have severe consequences on health.

Chronic diarrhea can also point towards chronic gallbladder disease. In particular, if you are having four or more bowel movements a day for a minimum three-month period, it is likely to be gallbladder disease.

Finally, jaundice is another less common symptom. If you notice your skin is turning a yellow color, it could be down to a blockage of gallstones in the common bile duct.

If you do find you have these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have gallstones. However, it does point towards an issue with the gallbladder. Keep a note of your symptoms and take them with you to the doctor. They will be able to carry out tests depending upon the symptoms you are showing.

Having gallstones properly diagnosed is important. Most do not need any form of treatment. However, if they are causing you pain or distress, a removal of the gallbladder might need to be carried out.

Who Gets Gallstones?

Did you know there are certain risk factors which affect your chances of developing gallstones? If you want to prevent them, it helps to know what these risk factors are.

So, how likely is it that you’ll develop gallstones? Here, we’ll look at who typically gets gallstones and the risk factors you should be aware of.

Common Gallstone Risk Factors

 Although gallstones are extremely common, some groups of people are more prone to developing them than others. Some of the most common risk factors for the condition include:

• Age
• Family history
• Being female
• Race
• Certain medical conditions
• Diet and weight

It is known that gallstones are more prevalent in older age. You also have an increased risk if you have a family history of gallstones. So, if your mother or father suffered with them, there is a higher risk you will too.

Women are known to suffer with gallstones more than men. This is especially true with pregnant women who have more estrogen in their system. Birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy can also increase the risk.

Interestingly, there also appears to be a race factor involved. It has been discovered that American Indians and Mexican Americans have an increased risk of developing the condition. American Indians in particular are at risk due to their genes which increase the amount of cholesterol in the bile. It is thought that American Indians have the highest prevalence of gallstones over any other race in the US.

If you have certain medical conditions you may also be at an increased risk. Cirrhosis, low HDL cholesterol, hemolytic anemias and diabetes are all associated with a higher risk of gallstones.

Finally, diet and weight can also play a role. Those who are obese, have undergone weight-loss surgery, or who are on a high-calorie, low-fiber diet, are all more susceptible to developing gallstones.

Which Risk Factors Can You Control?

Unfortunately, the majority of risk factors are out of your control. However, there are a couple that you do have some level of control over.

As some gallstones develop due to weight and diet issues, managing your weight and eating healthy can go some way to preventing them. The healthier and fitter you are, the lower your risk of developing any condition and disease – including gallstones.

If you have a medical condition which increases your risk of gallstones, you can also gain control by managing the condition. Taking medication and reducing the effects of the condition can go a long way towards preventing the development of gallstones. You can talk to your doctor about the risks and anything you can do to reduce them.

On the whole, most gallstones cannot be prevented. Anybody can develop them at any age but the older you are, the bigger the risk. Being aware of the risk factors gives you a better position to watch out for the symptoms and assess your likelihood of developing them.