Navigating Gallstone Risk: How Lifestyle Changes and Regular Physical Activity Can Prevent Complications

Gallstones can develop due to various factors such as rapid weight gain or loss, obesity, dieting, and lack of exercise. These stones form when there is an imbalance of cholesterol, bilirubin, and bile salts in the gallbladder or when the gallbladder functions abnormally. Dr. Vu Truong Khanh, head of the Department of Gastroenterology at Tam Anh General Hospital in Hanoi advises people with small gallstones to make lifestyle changes to reduce the risk factors that can increase the size of the stones.

Obesity is a significant factor that increases the risk of gallstones as excess cholesterol in bile accumulates due to being overweight. Rapid weight loss, specifically losing more than 1.5 kg per week, can also lead to gallstone formation as the gallbladder cannot properly secrete digestive juices when fasting. Dieting can change the balance of bile salts and cholesterol, increasing the likelihood of gallstone development. Sedentary habits can contribute to weight gain and slower gallbladder movement, allowing gallstones to grow.

Regular physical activity can help improve hepatobiliary function, prevent gallstone formation and protect against complications like acute cholecystitis, biliary tract infection and acute pancreatitis. Older individuals are at a higher risk for developing gallstones due to decreased cholesterol activity. It is essential for individuals experiencing symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, sweating, chills and vomiting to seek timely medical examination and treatment to avoid further complications.

To reduce the risk factors that increase the size of small gallstones less than 3 cm in size and do not have symptoms or complications people should monitor their weight gain or loss carefully before making any drastic changes in their diet or exercise routine. They should also be aware of their health status regularly and seek medical attention if they experience any symptoms associated with gallstones.

In conclusion, making lifestyle changes such as understanding how different factors affect your health and adjusting living habits accordingly can help prevent complications caused by small gallstones. Regular physical activity is crucial in improving hepatobiliary function while avoiding rapid weight loss or extreme dieting that may lead to larger stones formation which may cause severe complications later on.