Gallstones Treatment in New Jersey
Gallstones are a common condition affecting the gastrointestinal tract. While sometimes harmless, they can also be extremely painful, and if left untreated can lead to serious health complications. Bergen Medical Associates features a team of more than 40 board-certified physicians, nurses, and practitioners who represent various specialties. Learn more about the gallstone treatment we offer to patients throughout northern New Jersey, helping them live without pain.
What Are Gallstones?
Gallstones are hardened pieces of bile that form when there is too much of a main bile ingredient. The excess ingredient can’t blend with the rest and falls to the bottom of the gallbladder as sediment. This sediment gradually collects and hardens into stones.
Bile, also called gall, is an acidic fluid the body produces to break down food. Bile is created in the liver and then stored in the gallbladder until it is needed. When a person eats, their gallbladder releases bile through the biliary tract and into the stomach and small intestine. The bile aids with digesting food and eliminating waste products.
Small gallstones are not dangerous by themselves. If a gallstone moves into the biliary tract, however, it may become stuck in a bile duct. This creates a blockage that can lead to serious health complications if not addressed by a gastroenterologist.
What Are Gallstone Symptoms?
At first, gallstones do not cause symptoms. Noticeable signs only develop as gallstones become larger or when they begin obstructing a bile duct. When this happens, symptoms come in waves or “attacks” that often occur at night or after a fatty meal. These affect every person differently but may include:
- Severe upper abdominal pain, increasing rapidly and lasting 30 to 60 minutes
- Pain in the right shoulder or between the shoulder blades
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Abdominal gas or bloating
- Indigestion
Large gallstones may form a complete blockage, resulting in potentially severe health complications. Patients should seek medical help immediately if they experience the following symptoms:
- Sweating
- Chills
- Low-grade fever
- Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Clay-colored stool
Symptoms of gallstones can resemble other conditions, including heart attacks, irritable bowel syndrome, pancreatitis, and ulcers. Patients should always consult a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
What Causes Gallstones?
Gallstones form when there is too much of one main bile ingredient. This imbalance can be tied to a variety of health conditions, including:
- High cholesterol
- Sickle cell anemia
- Leukemia
- Diabetes
- Liver disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Persistent diarrhea
- Gallbladder stasis
Certain factors may put some people at more risk of gallstones than others. While these factors do guarantee someone will develop gallstones, they can increase an individual’s likelihood of experiencing them. These factors include:
- Being female
- Being over age 40
- Being Native American or Hispanic
- Being overweight or obese
- Exercising infrequently
- Eating a high-fat or high-cholesterol diet
- Eating a low-fiber diet
- Rapid weight loss
- Taking medications that contain estrogen
- Having a family history of gallstones
How Are Gallstones Diagnosed?
If a patient is experiencing symptoms of gallstones, their healthcare provider will begin by conducting a physical exam. They will then investigate further with additional tests, which can help rule out other conditions and pinpoint the correct diagnosis. Tests used for gallstones include:
- Blood test: By testing the composition of blood, doctors can determine whether cholesterol or other bile ingredients are high. They can also detect infection.
- Ultrasound: This test uses sound waves to create an image of the inside of the body and can be used to locate gallstones in and around the gallbladder.
- Endoscopic ultrasound: This involves inserting an ultrasound device into the body using a thin tube, which may provide clearer or more detailed images for analysis.
- Other imaging tests: X-ray, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans may also be used to locate gallstones.
What Gallstone Treatments Are Available?
Treatment for gallstones depends on the size of the gallstones, the severity of the symptoms, and the patient’s overall health. Small gallstones that don’t cause symptoms may not need treatment. If pain is persistent, however, physicians may attempt to remove the gallstone through:
- Oral dissolution therapy: The patient takes an oral medication containing bile acid, which may dissolve the gallstones.
- Contact dissolution therapy: Drugs or ether solutions are injected directly into the gallbladder to dissolve the gallstones.
- Gallbladder removal: If other treatments have failed or if gallstones recur, physicians may surgically remove the gallbladder.
Physicians may also recommend losing weight or following a low-cholesterol diet. These lifestyle changes may reduce the risk of developing future gallstones.
Choose Bergen Medical Associates for Gallstone Treatment in New Jersey
If a person is experiencing symptoms of gallstones, they can access state-of-the-art care at Bergen Medical Associates. This medical practice serves northern New Jersey patients from locations throughout the region and has been one of the area’s leaders in gastroenterological care for over 25 years. Our gallstone treatments can help patients avoid health consequences and return to a high quality of life. To get started, request an appointment today.
