哮喘行动计划：控制症状并预防发作

Overview

Your gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located under your liver that stores bile, a fluid your liver makes to help digest fat. Gallstones are hard, pebble-like deposits that form inside the gallbladder when the substances in bile (cholesterol or bilirubin) become imbalanced. Many people have gallstones their entire lives without ever knowing, but they can cause painful symptoms and serious complications if they block bile ducts.

Signs & Symptoms

Most people with gallstones have no symptoms at all—these are called silent gallstones, and they usually don’t require treatment. Symptoms only occur when a gallstone blocks a bile duct, and common signs include:

• Sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen or center of the abdomen (just below the breastbone)
• Pain that radiates to your back or right shoulder blade
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever or chills
• Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• Dark urine or pale, clay-colored stools

Causes & Risk Factors

Gallstones form when the chemical balance in bile is off, causing substances to harden. There are two main types: cholesterol gallstones (the most common, made of hardened cholesterol) and pigment gallstones (made of bilirubin, a substance produced when red blood cells break down). You may be more likely to develop gallstones if you:

• Are assigned female at birth
• Are over 40 years old
• Have a family history of gallstones
• Are pregnant or taking hormone replacement therapy
• Have obesity, diabetes, or liver disease
• Eat a diet high in fat, sugar, or refined carbs and low in fiber

Diagnosis

If your doctor suspects gallstones, they will first ask about your symptoms and medical history, then may order one or more of the following tests to confirm the diagnosis and check for complications:

Treatment & Management

Treatment for gallstones depends on whether you are having symptoms. Silent gallstones usually don’t need treatment, but if gallstones cause pain, infection, or blockages, your doctor will recommend a treatment plan:

• Watchful waiting: If you have mild, infrequent symptoms, your doctor may suggest monitoring your condition and making lifestyle changes first
• Medications: Ursodiol or chenodiol can sometimes dissolve small cholesterol gallstones, but this can take months to years, and gallstones often come back after stopping the medication
• Surgery: Cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder) is the most common and most effective treatment for symptomatic gallstones. It is usually done laparoscopically (through small incisions) with a short recovery time, though open surgery may be needed in some cases
• Non-surgical procedures: In rare cases where surgery is too risky, doctors may use shock wave therapy (lithotripsy) to break up gallstones, or place a tube to drain bile from the gallbladder

Living With It

• Eat a balanced diet high in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and limit foods high in fat, sugar, and refined carbs that can trigger pain flare-ups
• Maintain a healthy weight, and avoid crash diets or rapid weight loss, which can trigger gallstone formation
• Exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes most days of the week to support healthy digestion and weight management
• If you have had your gallbladder removed, start with small, low-fat meals after surgery and gradually add more foods back into your diet as you heal
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day to help keep bile fluid