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By Dr Thamarai Velan , Consultant General and Hepatobiliary Surgeon from Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre ( BTMC )

“ Generally , gallstones are more commonly found in women who are over the age of 40 , had multiple pregnancies , lead a sedentary lifestyle , are obese , and prefer a high-fat diet intake .”

In fact , individuals who frequently experience symptoms of gallstones are typically advised to undergo elective gallbladder surgery . However , for patients with gallstones who do not exhibit any symptoms , treatment is not necessary with a few exemptions such as gallbladder with large polyps and calcified gallbladder wall .

�allstones refer to the formation of stones or concretion of sludge within the biliary system including the gallbladder or bile ducts . The shape , si�e , and colour of the stones can vary .

According to Dr Thamarai �elan , a consultant general and hepatobiliary surgeon at Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre ( BTMC ), gallstones are the most common disease affecting the biliary system .

�allstones can be divided into cholesterol stones , mixed stones , and pigment stones . Cholesterol stones and mixed stones are often caused by a sedentary lifestyle .

�Black pigment stones are more common in patients with liver cirrhosis or blood disorders such as thalassemia or sickle cell anemia whereas the formation of brown pigment stones is due to bacterial infection in the bile duct . �

��enerally , gallstones are more commonly found in women who are over the age of 40 , had multiple pregnancies , lead a sedentary lifestyle , are obese , and prefer a high-fat diet intake . �

�However , due to an unhealthy modern lifestyle , lack of exercise , inadequate water intake , and the rising number of individuals affected by obesity , this condition is becoming more prevalent among younger individuals . Currently , patients diagnosed with gallstones range from 25 and 40 of age . �

Easily Confused with Gastric Problems Dr �elan emphasised that the most common symptom of gallstones is biliary colic , characterised by upper right abdomen pain that can radiate to the tip of the right scapula .

�When individuals experience stomach pain or bloating , many tend to self-diagnose with gastric problems , especially if the symptoms subside after taking gastric medications , leading them to assume it is related to gastric pain . �

However , he cautioned that in gallstone patients , the pain will return after a while , especially after consuming high-fat foods . This pain can persist for as short as 5 minutes or a few hours .

�If the pain reoccurs or becomes regular , it should not be disregarded as typical stomach pain , as it could be due to gallstones , heart conditions , or other upper abdominal condition . �

�urthermore , frequent belching after meals , feeling nauseous or experiencing the urge to vomit after consuming fatty foods are also common symptoms associated with gallstones .

Diagnosis Through Ultrasound Scanning Dr �elan revealed that a simple and non-invasive technique , ultrasound examination , can be used to confirm the presence of gallstones .

�ther diagnostic methods include computed

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