What should not be eaten with gallstones?

Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
Updated on September 24, 2024
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Patients with gallstones should primarily avoid spicy and stimulating foods, such as chili peppers, barbecue, and garlic, to reduce inflammation. They should also avoid foods high in fats and cholesterol, such as animal organs and fatty meats. For patients with gallstones, the diet should mainly consist of light and mild foods, and include plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits to lessen the burden on the gallbladder and reduce the frequency of symptoms. If a patient with gallstones repeatedly experiences discomfort or pain in the upper right abdomen, it is necessary to consider surgical removal of the gallbladder at an early stage. Surgery is the only definitive treatment to improve the quality of life for these patients, and diet still needs to be carefully managed post-surgery.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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How should gallstones be treated?

The treatment of gallstones primarily depends on whether symptoms are present. For patients with relatively small gallstones, they usually do not experience significant discomfort and do not require special treatment. Regular ultrasonic re-examinations to monitor changes in size are recommended. Daily dietary intake should avoid spicy and stimulating foods, and foods high in cholesterol. For patients with larger gallstones, recurrent right upper abdominal pain and biliary colic may occur, so early surgical intervention is advised. Only through surgical removal of the gallbladder can a complete cure be achieved, with laparoscopic cholecystectomy being the main method of surgery.

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Written by Zhang Tao
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Gallbladder stones incidence rate in men and women

Understanding the gender differences in the prevalence of various diseases has important practical significance for the occurrence, development, and prevention of diseases. Research in this area has gradually gained attention from health prevention workers and provides a scientific basis for health prevention efforts. Various clinical studies indicate that the prevalence of gallstones is significantly higher in women than in men, with an incidence ratio of about 3:1 in the affected population. With economic development, people's lifestyles and dietary structures have undergone tremendous changes, leading to an increasing trend in the incidence of gallstones. In China, approximately 8%-11% of patients suffer from gallstones, predominantly obese women around forty years old, often referred to by the three Fs: fat, forty, female.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Is it normal to feel nauseous with gallstones?

Patients with gallstones experiencing nausea and vomiting is normal, as gallstones often cause acute cholecystitis, leading to pain and discomfort in the upper right abdomen. At this time, it may also affect the stomach causing nausea and vomiting, so it is advisable to use antibiotics for anti-infection treatment as soon as possible. Once the inflammation is controlled, the condition can be alleviated. When nausea and vomiting occur, it is also advisable to fast for gastrointestinal decompression, which can better alleviate the condition. Additionally, after returning to a normal diet, one should avoid spicy and irritating foods to reduce inflammation and aid in the relief of the condition. If symptoms do not improve with conservative treatment, surgery should be considered as soon as possible.

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Written by Zhang Tao
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Can gallstones turn into cancer?

If gallstones are not treated promptly, the probability of developing gallbladder cancer is higher than in healthy individuals. Long-term untreated gallstones can irritate the gallbladder, leading to decreased gallbladder function and causing cancerous changes. Chronic thickening of the gallbladder wall can occur from prolonged episodes of gallstones, worsening inflammation, which can lead to more severe inflammation of the gallbladder mucosa and result in cancerous changes. In fact, gallstones are an important factor in the development of gallbladder cancer. However, not all patients with gallbladder cancer have gallstones, but clinically, about 70% of patients with gallbladder cancer have concurrent gallstones. Therefore, even if patients with gallstones do not exhibit symptoms, they should be particularly cautious and undergo regular physical examinations annually to detect problems early and treat them promptly.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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What is good to eat for gallstones?

Patients with gallbladder stones should primarily observe the following dietary guidelines: First, it is particularly important for patients with gallbladder stones to avoid spicy and stimulating foods such as chili peppers, barbecues, and garlic. A diet primarily composed of mild foods, supplemented by fresh vegetables and fruits, can better control the onset of the condition. Second, patients with gallbladder stones can also appropriately include protein-rich foods such as eggs, lean meats, and fish in their diet to enhance their immunity. Third, patients with gallbladder stones should avoid foods high in cholesterol and fats, such as animal offal and fatty meats. These foods might cause the stones to increase in size and lead to recurrent right upper abdominal pain and discomfort, thus requiring attention.