Abdominal pain is a common ailment that many people have experienced. However, recurrent pain in the upper right abdomen may not be so simple.
Recently, a 56-year-old woman from Sichuan presented to the hospital with recurrent right upper abdominal pain and was diagnosed with gallstones accompanied by acute cholecystitis. During the surgery, doctors removed over 270 yellow gallstones from her gallbladder
Many netizens exclaimed in horror after watching: So that's how gallstones form, and many people are engaging in bad habits that can lead to stone formation every day.
Why do gallstones form?
The gallbladder is located in the gallbladder fossa beneath the liver in the upper right abdomen, resembling a pear-shaped "bile reservoir". Its primary function is to store and concentrate bile secreted by the liver. Bile is produced by hepatocytes and contains cholesterol, bile salts, phospholipids, bilirubin, and water. After eating, the gallbladder discharges the concentrated bile into the duodenum to aid digestion. When the bile components are imbalanced, cholesterol is supersaturated, or the gallbladder does not empty completely, substances in the bile may precipitate out as crystals, which can accumulate over time to form gallstones.
Clinically, stones are often classified into three types: cholesterol gallstones, pigment gallstones, and other types of stones. The most common type is cholesterol gallstones, which are often associated with obesity, high-fat diet, pregnancy, rapid weight loss, metabolic syndrome, and other factors.
Many netizens may wonder, does the presence of more stones indicate a more severe condition?
Zhou Kailun, a specialist in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, stated that having more stones does not necessarily mean the condition is more severe, and having fewer stones does not necessarily mean the risk is lower. The factors that truly affect the risk are the location and size of the stones, whether they cause obstruction, and the condition of the gallbladder and biliary tract.
Some individuals may only have 1-2 large gallstones, yet they experience recurrent biliary colic, gallbladder wall thickening, and inflammation; whereas others may have hundreds of small gallstones in their gallbladder but experience no discomfort for a long time. However, multiple small gallstones pose a special hidden danger: small stones are more likely to fall off and enter the common bile duct, triggering cholangitis and even life-threatening gallstone pancreatitis.
These habits are exactly the "catalysts" for the formation of kidney stones
Director Zhou Kailun reminded that the high incidence of gallstones in clinical practice is highly correlated with poor daily dietary habits.
1. Not eating breakfast for a long time, resulting in prolonged fasting
This is the most common high-risk habit. From dinner the previous night to noon the next day, there is a period of over ten hours without eating, during which the gallbladder continuously stores bile and cannot empty it, resulting in highly concentrated bile and an increased risk of cholesterol precipitation. People who regularly skip breakfast have a significantly higher risk of developing gallstones. Many people think that "skipping one meal is okay," but they don't realize that their gallbladder has been silently "cooking up a stone" all along.
2. Eating high-oil and high-fat meals every meal, and having a preference for heavy oil and sugar
Fatty meat, fried foods, hot pot and barbecue, cream desserts, milk tea... Long-term high intake of fat and refined sugar can lead to excessive cholesterol concentration in bile, forming cholesterol gallstones, which are the golden "small golden beans" mentioned in the news.
3. Having irregular meals, overeating, and going hungry or stuffed at different times
When busy, people tend to skip meals, but once they gather for a meal, they eat until they are stuffed, completely disrupting the rhythm of gallbladder contraction. Director Zhou Kailun specifically reminds us that overeating and overdrinking can stimulate severe contraction of the gallbladder in a short period of time. For those who already have small gallstones, it is easy to induce biliary colic and acute exacerbation of cholecystitis.
4. Sitting for long periods with little physical activity, being obese, or experiencing rapid weight loss
Long-term sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise can lead to decreased gallbladder contraction ability, slower bile emptying, and increased bile stasis. Obese individuals have a vigorous cholesterol metabolism, making them high-risk groups for gallstones.
Meanwhile, Director Zhou Kailun reminded that rapid dieting and short-term drastic weight loss are equally dangerous, as they can disrupt cholesterol metabolism and induce gallstones. Weight loss must be gradual.
5. Ignoring abdominal distension and belching, mistaking gallbladder discomfort for stomach disease
In the early stage of gallstone disease, many people do not experience severe pain. Instead, they may only exhibit symptoms such as abdominal distension after meals, belching, and discomfort when eating greasy foods. These symptoms can easily be mistaken for chronic gastritis and ignored. Gallstones silently grow larger and larger under this "asymptomatic" condition.
⚠️ Don't assume that "if it doesn't hurt, it's fine". Small stones carry a higher risk
Many people have a misconception: if the stones don't hurt, there's no need to worry about them. Director Zhou Kailun emphasizes that multiple small stones can sometimes be more dangerous than a single large stone.
Once small gallstones become lodged at the opening of the cystic duct, they can trigger acute cholecystitis, which can lead to severe conditions such as gallbladder suppuration and perforation. If small gallstones fall into the common bile duct and block the opening of the pancreatic duct, they can induce acute pancreatitis, which is a life-threatening emergency. Long-term repeated stimulation of the gallbladder wall by gallstones and persistent chronic inflammation over many years can increase the risk of gallbladder lesions.
Director Zhou Kailun reminds everyone to remember the typical symptoms: after a heavy meal or eating greasy food, there is a sharp pain in the upper right abdomen, which radiates to the right shoulder and back, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fever. If such symptoms occur, please seek medical attention immediately and do not self-medicate with stomach medicine.
✅ Protect your gallbladder and prevent gallstones by doing these things well
Maintain a breakfast routine: Incorporating a moderate amount of high-quality fats (such as eggs and milk) into your breakfast can stimulate gallbladder contraction, facilitating the emptying of bile stored overnight. It's not necessary to have a lavish breakfast, but avoid fasting.
Maintain a balanced diet, control oil and sugar intake: reduce consumption of fried foods, fatty meats, sweet drinks, and pastries; increase intake of fresh vegetables and whole grains to boost dietary fiber and aid in regulating bile metabolism.
Eat three meals regularly, and aim for a 70% fullness: Eat in a regular pattern, without dieting or overeating.
Maintain regular exercise and stable weight control: Engage in aerobic activities such as brisk walking and slow running weekly, and avoid prolonged sitting. Weight loss should be gradual, and extreme fasting should be avoided.
Regular liver and gallbladder ultrasound screening: B-mode ultrasound is the preferred choice for gallstone examination, as it is non-invasive and convenient.
Director Zhou Kailun suggested that people over 40 years old, who are obese, have a family history of gallstones, diabetes, and are female, should undergo a liver and gallbladder ultrasound examination annually. For those who have already been diagnosed with gallstones, they should follow the doctor's advice for regular follow-up examinations and should not blindly take lithotripsy drugs for self-treatment.
(Friendly reminder: This article is for health education purposes and cannot replace clinical diagnosis and treatment. If you have been diagnosed with gallstones, please follow the assessment advice of your hepatobiliary surgeon regarding follow-up, medication, or surgery.)