Gallstones (Cholelithiasis)
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## 💎 **Gallstones (Cholelithiasis)**
> *Solid particles that form in the gallbladder due to imbalance in the composition of bile.*
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### 📍 **What is the Gallbladder?**
- A **small pear-shaped organ** beneath the liver
- Stores and concentrates **bile** – a digestive fluid that helps break down fats
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### 💠 **What are Gallstones?**
- **Crystalline deposits** made of:
- **Cholesterol** (most common)
- **Bilirubin** (pigment stones)
- **Calcium salts**
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### ⚠️ **Causes of Gallstones**
- **Imbalance in bile components**:
- Too much **cholesterol**
- Too much **bilirubin**
- Not enough **bile salts**
- **Risk Factors (5 F’s)**:
- 👩 **Female**
- 🍔 **Fat** (obesity)
- 👵 **Forty** (age > 40)
- 👶 **Fertile** (pregnancy, estrogen)
- 👪 **Family History**
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### 🔍 **Symptoms (When Present)**
| Symptom | Description |
|-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| 🌪️ Biliary Colic | Sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen |
| 🤢 Nausea/Vomiting | Especially after fatty meals |
| 🌡️ Fever & Chills | If infection (cholecystitis) is present |
| ⚠️ Jaundice | If stones block the bile duct |
> ⚠️ Many people have **"silent gallstones"** and show no symptoms.
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### 🧪 **Diagnosis**
- **🖥️ Ultrasound**: First-line imaging test
- **🩸 Blood Tests**: To check for infection or liver involvement
- **MRCP / CT Scan**: For detecting bile duct stones
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### 💊 **Treatment Options**
| Option | Details |
|--------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| 🛌 **Watchful Waiting** | For asymptomatic stones |
| 💊 **Medications** | Bile acid pills (e.g., ursodiol) for dissolving stones |
| 🔪 **Cholecystectomy** | Surgical removal of the gallbladder (laparoscopic) |
| 💉 **ERCP** | Endoscopic removal of stones in bile ducts |
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### ❗ **Complications**
- **Cholecystitis** – inflammation of the gallbladder
- **Pancreatitis** – if a stone blocks the pancreatic duct
- **Cholangitis** – infection of the bile ducts
- **Gallbladder cancer** – rare but possible
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### 🛡️ **Prevention Tips**
- Maintain **healthy weight**
- Avoid **rapid weight loss**
- Eat a **balanced diet** (low in cholesterol & fat)
- Stay **active and hydrated**
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### 📌 **Quick Reminder**
Not all gallstones need treatment, but **pain + fever or jaundice = emergency**! Seek medical care immediately.
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