Gallstones

Gallstones Are A Common Condition Where Small, Pebble-Like Stones Form In The Gallbladder, A Small Organ That Sits Just Below The Liver. The Stones Are Made Up Of Hardened Deposits Of Digestive Fluid That Can Range In Size From As Small As A Grain Of Sand To As Large As A Golf Ball. The Most Common Cause Of Gallstones Is An Imbalance In The Chemical Make-Up Of Bile, A Digestive Fluid Produced By The Liver. This Can Occur When The Liver Produces Too Much Cholesterol, Which Can Form Hardened Deposits In The Gallbladder. Gallstones Can Also Form Due To An Excess Of Bilirubin, A Pigment That Is A Byproduct Of The Breakdown Of Red Blood Cells. Gallstones Can Cause Pain And Discomfort, Often Occurring In The Right Side Of The Abdomen. Other Symptoms Can Include Nausea, Vomiting, And Jaundice. In Some Cases, People With Gallstones May Not Experience Any Symptoms. Treatment Of Gallstones Depends On The Size, Number, And Location Of The Stones. In Some Cases, Medication May Be Prescribed To Dissolve Small Stones. Other Treatments Include Shock Wave Lithotripsy, Which Uses Sound Waves To Break Up The Stones, And Surgical Removal Of The Gallbladder.