Gallstones are tiny stones or lumps that develop in the bile duct or gallbladder when chemical substances harden. The hardening occurs to imbalance of chemicals such as cholesterol, calcium carbonate and calcium biliribinate. These solidify into small stones or one larger one. Upon blocking the bile duct, these can be extremely painful to pass. There are two kinds of gallstones –cholesterol stones and pigment stones. Cholesterol stones are yellowish-green in color. 80% of all gallstones are cholesterol stones developed due to excess cholesterol in the body. Pigment stones on the other hand, are much darker in color and smaller than cholesterol stones. These are of made of bilirubin –a fluid that one’s liver secretes.
Although there aren’t any known causes of gallstones, there are many who are at a higher risk of developing them. A person will be at risk if:
- He/she is obese or overweight
- He/she is consuming cholesterol-enriched diets frequently
- He/she has experienced rapid weight loss
- He/she has diabetes mellitus
Other risk factors involve:
- Being a female
- Being pregnant
- Belonging to an American/Indian or Mexican-American background
- Having a history of gallstones in the family
- Being over 60
Symptoms
There are a few indications to help one know for sure they have developed gallstones.
These symptoms include:
- Abrupt intensifying pain in the upper right of the abdomen
- Abrupt intensifying pain in the centre of the abdomen, just below the breastbone
- pain in the right shoulder
- Pain in between the shoulder blades
- back pain
- Vomiting or nausea
In case the pain and discomfort persists, one must not waste time before seeking medical assistance as it could even result in one’s death in rare cases.
Recommended Supplements
While eating a healthy diet and regular exercise helps to manage gallstones, it is not enough to keep you fit and healthy. Supplements are essential for managing gallstones and reducing its symptoms. But it should be kept in mind that supplements should not be used to replace the treatment for gallstones. It is not always true that natural products are safe for use. Many products can react with your body and produce an adverse reaction. Thus, it is better to be safe and consult your before starting to use any supplements for managing your condition.
The following supplements have proven to benefit people with gallstones: