Gallstone disease

Biliary stone disease — is a chronic condition in which stones form in the gallbladder or bile ducts from components of bile — cholesterol, pigments, and salts.

The main cause — is bile stagnation, which occurs due to infrequent meals and a lack of fats in the diet, during which the gallbladder does not empty completely.

Causes of occurrence

The main factors leading to stone formation:

• long intervals between meals and infrequent eating;
• low-fat diets, during which the gallbladder does not receive a signal to empty;
• imbalance of microflora and disruption of fatty acid metabolism;
• hypodynamia and a sedentary lifestyle;
• hormonal changes (pregnancy, use of contraceptives);
• increased viscosity of bile due to a deficiency of water and phospholipids (in particular, lecithin);
• liver and bile duct diseases that disrupt the composition of bile.

Symptoms and manifestations

In the early stages, the disease often proceeds asymptomatically.

Later, the following may appear:

• heaviness or pain in the right upper quadrant after eating, especially after fatty meals;
• nausea, belching, bitterness in the mouth;
• bloating, feeling of fullness;
• biliary colic attacks — sharp pain radiating to the back or right shoulder;
• jaundice of the skin and sclera in case of duct obstruction.

Complications

Without treatment, possible complications include:

• acute or chronic cholecystitis;
• mechanical jaundice;
• pancreatitis;
• rupture of the gallbladder and peritonitis.

Prevention and treatment

The main prevention — is to ensure regular bile flow and normal bile acid composition. For this, it is important to:

• eat regularly, without long breaks;
• include a sufficient amount of fats — preferably animal and saturated (butter, egg yolks, meat);
• avoid diets with strict calorie and fat restrictions;
• drink enough water to dilute bile;
• maintain physical activity;
• consume foods rich in lecithin and choline (eggs, liver, fish).

For small stones, dissolution with medication (ursodeoxycholic acid) is possible. In case of complications, surgical treatment — cholecystectomy is indicated.