|  | Conditions Treatments | Digestive Health

What Are the Dangers of Gall Stones?

Gallstones are deposits of cholesterol or billirubin that develop inside of your gallbladder, a condition that is very common in the United States. In some patients, gallstones have the potential to cause health complications.

  1. Significance

    • The risk of developing complications from gallstones is low, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. In fact, many people have gallstones and never realize it because the deposits cause no symptoms or adverse effects.

    Types of Symptoms

    • The primary danger of gallstones is a blockage in the gallbladder, which produces symptoms like pain in the upper right portion or center of your abdomen, back pain between your shoulders and pain in your right shoulder.

    Treatment

    • Gallbladder blockages can usually be treated through surgery or the use of prescription medications like chenodeoxycholic acids, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

    Complications

    • Although complications are rare, gallstones have the potential to cause inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas and blockage of the duct that joints the gallbladder and the liver. That can cause liver failure.

    Risks

    • There is an increased risk of gallbladder cancer associated with gallstones, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Digestive Health - Related Articles