1.What are gallstones? What is the incidence of gallstones? The concept of gallstones is divided into two types: broad and narrow. In the broad sense, gallstones refer to stones in the bile ducts inside and outside the liver and in the gallbladder. In the narrow sense, gallstones refer to stones in the gallbladder, which is a common disease. When we talk about “gallstones”, we generally refer to stones in the gallbladder. The incidence of gallstones increases with age, and is significantly higher in women than in men. With the improvement of living standards, dietary habits and hygiene conditions, gallstone disease in China has gradually changed from mainly bile pigment stones in the bile ducts to mainly cholesterol stones in the gallbladder. In the United States, the incidence of gallbladder stones is 10%-15%, with about 1,000,000 newly diagnosed gallstones per year and about 700,000 gallbladder resection cases per year, while in China, the incidence was 7%-10% in the late 1990s. From the analysis of the causes, some are immutable factors, such as: gradually increasing age, female, race, genes and family history; some are acquired factors, partly reversible, such as: pregnancy, obesity, low fiber, high fat, high cholesterol diet, prolonged fasting, certain drugs such as ceftriaxone, lipid-lowering drugs, oral contraceptives, rapid weight loss, metabolic syndrome, special diseases, etc. 2.What are the symptoms of gallstones? Asymptomatic This kind of stone is also quieter stone, most of the gallstones patients have no symptoms. By asymptomatic, I mean that there are no other obvious symptoms such as colic, and they will not even be noticed for the rest of their lives. This is the reason why many gallstone patients neglect gallstone treatment. Generally speaking, it takes 5 to 8 years from the discovery of gallstones to the appearance of symptoms. In this case, we need to do regular routine checkups and treat them in time once they are found. Once treatment is delayed, the consequences are unimaginable. Non-specific symptoms Patients with gallstones sometimes have mild epigastric distention, vague pain, discomfort, belching and other symptoms, especially after eating fatty food, so it is easy to be misdiagnosed. 80% of patients are treated as “stomach disease” or other diseases in general. Gallstones are only found when the treatment is not effective and further examination is done. Therefore, it is important for patients to choose a regular hospital for this type of examination to avoid misdiagnosis. Typical symptoms The most typical symptom of gallstones is pain most often located in the upper abdomen or around the lowermost rib on the right side of the upper abdomen, radiating to the right shoulder and back, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, especially after eating greasy food. If the stone enters the common bile duct, complications such as jaundice, cholangitis and pancreatitis may occur, of which severe cholangitis and pancreatitis can be life-threatening. For this reason, hepatobiliary surgeons generally have a negative attitude toward medication for stone removal. Complications of gallstones include low fever, chills, profuse sweating and even jaundice. These initial symptoms of gallstones can be used as a reference for the patient’s initial diagnosis, and once the above symptoms are found, the patient should be promptly examined to confirm the diagnosis for timely treatment. If ultrasound indicates that atrophic cholecystitis has developed, early surgery is recommended because atrophic cholecystitis has the possibility of malignant transformation into gallbladder cancer. 3.How should gallstones be prevented? (1) Diet control is the most ideal prevention method to prevent gallstone disease and gallbladder cancer. In addition, cold, greasy, high-protein, stimulating foods and strong alcohol are easy to create heat and bile accumulation, so they should be eaten sparingly. Long-term consumption of fatty meat, animal offal, egg yolk and white wine is an important factor in the formation of gallstones. Vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin A and vitamin C, fish and seafood can help clear bile and dissolve stones, so you should eat more of them. (2) It is also very important to have a regular life, pay attention to the combination of work and rest, participate in regular physical activities, eat breakfast on time, avoid gaining weight, and reduce the number of pregnancies.