Can you die from gallstones? This is a very important and common question. If you’re not familiar with gallstones, it can be scary to find out you have them. If you are familiar with them, or you know someone who had a mild experience with them, you might be wondering why you’re not having the same experience. Can they kill you? Yes, but this is rare and happens only when no treatment is sought.
What Are Gallstones?
So, what are they? Before you can understand if you can die from gallstones, it’s a good idea to start from the beginning and define what they are. Maybe you’ve heard of them before but had no idea they could be serious enough to be fatal.
Gallstones are small, hard stones that can form in your gallbladder. They can be as small as a pebble to as large as a golf ball. If you have gallstones, you may not have any symptoms. However, if the gallstone becomes stuck in your bile duct, it can block the flow of bile and cause a buildup of toxins in your bloodstream. This can lead to a serious infection or even death.
In most cases, severe gallstones can be successfully treated with surgery. However, if left untreated, some gallstones can be fatal. If you think you may have gallstones, it is important to see a doctor for treatment. They will then be able to assess the severity, how big the stones are, and if you have any related infections. How do you know when you should wait it out at home and when you should see a doctor?
Can a Gallbladder Attack Be Fatal?
It is an important question. It’s a good idea to have the gallbladder removed before it ruptures. Sometimes this organ does not burst in one area, but elsewhere on its surface or near major blood vessels which can lead to serious complications if left untreated for too long.
The outlook is promising when it comes to removing the gallbladder in time. Not all rupture locations produce complications or infections that can be life-threatening, but some do cause serious problems for patients requiring emergency care in any case!
When Are Gallstones an Emergency?
It’s good practice to see a doctor any time you suspect you may have gallstones. They can do an exam and see if you do, and how severe they are, and if there is any other damage from them, such as infection. The turning point when gallstones become an emergency is when you cannot pass them on your own, bile backs up inside the body, and it causes an infection.
Here are signs that your gallstones are an emergency:
- Gallbladder pain – in the upper right or middle of the abdomen
- Having steady pain after meals
- Nausea and vomiting, particular when it comes with the pain listed above and after a meal
- Jaundice with no other known cause
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention right away. This could mean a gallbladder attack, which can be fatal when left untreated.
Risk Factors
While anyone can get gallstones that may be serious, there are some things that increase your risk.
- Family history of gallstones
- Diabetes
- Family history of diabetes
- Pregnancy
- Taking certain medications, particularly those containing estrogen (like HRT or birth control pills)
- Being over age 40
- If you are of Native American or Mexican descent
- Being clinically obese or overweight
- Losing weight very quickly (such as after gastric surgery)
- Eating a high fat or high-cholesterol diet
Can You Live Safely with Them?
Yes. For many people, gallstones are nothing more than a nuisance. They can cause pain and discomfort, but they’re not generally considered to be a serious health hazard. In fact, many people have them and don’t even know it. The stones will break down on their own and exit the body and they will never have any symptoms from it.
However, there are some cases where gallstones can pose a more serious threat. As explained above, if a gallstone lodges in the bile duct, it can block the flow of bile and cause an infection. In rare cases, this can lead to sepsis, which is a potentially life-threatening condition.
Additionally, gallstones can sometimes trigger pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas. While pancreatitis is usually not fatal, it can be very painful and require hospitalization. So, while most people with gallstones will never experience any serious complications, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks.
Conclusions
In short, can gallstones kill you? Yes.
Will they? Usually not.
Provided you seek medical care in a timely manner, there is no reason this condition has to be fatal. Medical advancements of today make it even easier than ever before to treat this condition. And we now know so much more about how to prevent gallstones, how to avoid trigger foods, and how to pass them naturally on your own.
If you know that you are at risk of developing gallstones, you can take some steps to prevent it now, before they actually develop. For example, you can eat more dietary fiber, switch to lean proteins, and if you need to lose weight, try to do it slowly and gradually, rather than a lot at once. You should also restrict or limit your consumption of sodas and sugary beverages because although they do not cause gallstones directly, they can increase your risk factors.