Gallstones and acid reflux are two conditions that can cause troublesome symptoms. However, evidence suggests the two may have a link. This blog post explains gallstones and acid reflux, including their symptoms and possible connections. Keep reading to learn whether gallstones cause acid reflux.
What are gallstones?
Gallstones are tiny ‘stones’ in your gallbladder (a small organ in your body that stores bile) that are usually made of hardened cholesterol deposits. They can vary in size and you may develop one or multiple stones simultaneously.
Generally, gallstones do not cause many symptoms unless they obstruct your gallbladder. An obstruction will cause sudden and severe symptoms, with the most common one being intense abdominal pain.
However, other symptoms can also occur, including:
- A fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes
- Dark urine
- Light-coloured stools
These signs may occur more than once and could suggest you need gallbladder surgery.
Causes of gallstones
No one knows the exact cause of gallstones. Experts believe they could result from chemical imbalances in your bile, such as too much cholesterol. This may lead to gallstones forming over time. However, it’s also possible that incorrect emptying of your gallbladder may be the problem.
Although we don’t know the exact cause, effective treatments are available.
Do gallstones cause digestive problems?
Gallstones may not necessarily cause digestive problems, but the symptoms you experience may. For example, nausea and vomiting regularly may disrupt your appetite.
Some people find that what they eat can cause their gallstone symptoms. For instance, eating heavy or greasy foods may trigger an attack and cause digestive problems like bloating and diarrhoea.
What is acid reflux?
Acid reflux is where your stomach acid travels up towards your throat, causing a burning feeling in your chest and a sour taste in your mouth.
Acid reflux can also cause:
- A cough
- Recurrent hiccups
- A hoarse throat
- Bad breath
- Bloating
- Nausea
Most people find that their acid reflux symptoms are worse after eating and when lying down.
If you have recurrent acid reflux, you may be diagnosed with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) via an endoscopy. This diagnostic procedure involves inserting a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end down your throat to examine your upper gastrointestinal tract.
Causes and risk factors of acid reflux
Why you develop acid reflux is often unclear, but experts think it may be caused or made worse by:
- Certain foods and drinks, like coffee, alcohol, chocolate, tomatoes, fried and spicy foods
- Being overweight
- Smoking
- Pregnancy
- Stress and anxiety
- Certain anti-inflammatory medications
- A hiatus hernia
- A stomach ulcer
Primarily, you can manage mild acid reflux at home with over-the-counter medicines or prescription medications from your doctor. However, you may need surgical intervention if these do not provide relief.
You can learn more about acid reflux in our complete guide.
Do gallstones give you acid reflux?
Although gallstones and acid reflux seem like different conditions, they may be connected.
A study conducted in 2015 of 604 people with GORD found that 13% of them also had gallstones. So, there is potential for an elevated risk of GORD when you have gallstones.
Another possible link is chronic gallbladder disease, where you have gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder. Chronic gallbladder disease can cause symptoms such as nausea, gas and acid reflux, while eating fried, greasy or spicy foods can also worsen symptoms.
Does acid reflux cause gallstones?
Acid reflux doesn’t cause gallstones but certain prescribed medications used to treat GORD might.
A small study in 2006 found that people taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to manage GORD and acid reflux had higher rates of gallstones. Researchers think the reason could be that PPIs reduce your gallbladder’s function and increase their formation.
Although a connection between gallstones and acid reflux is possible, it’s unclear why. Neither is the connection strong enough to confirm one can cause the other. However, some evidence suggests people with acid reflux are more likely to have gallstones and chronic gallbladder disease has acid reflux as a symptom.
Discover acid reflux and gallstone treatment with Mr Achal Khanna
Acid reflux and gallstones are two conditions with symptoms that can disrupt your everyday life. While it’s unclear why (or if) they’re connected, some suggest acid reflux is more common when you have gallstones.
Mr Achal Khanna offers private gallstone and acid reflux treatment for patients seeking relief from their condition via a variety of techniques, including fundoplication, using LINX devices for acid reflux, endoscopy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal surgery). His expertise in minimally invasive, laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques also helps provide enhanced recovery and minimal downtime.
Contact Mr Achal Khanna today and discover how he can treat your gallstones and acid reflux with modern, minimally invasive techniques and cutting-edge technology.