What is the difference between gallstones and kidney stones?

Many young people nowadays like to sleep until noon. And even breakfast was skipped. But we should know that this is wrong, breakfast is very important to us. Some people develop kidney stones because they do not pay attention to their diet. As for stones, you may have doubts. So, what is the difference between gallstones and kidney stones? If you are still in the dark, let me explain it to you one by one!

Cholecystolithiasis is the most common lesion in the biliary system. Depending on the location, it can be divided into gallbladder stones, primary or secondary common bile duct stones, extrahepatic bile duct stones or intrahepatic bile duct stones. In clinical practice, stones in a single location are possible but not common. Often stones in several locations exist in the same patient at the same time. In European and American countries, the gallstones of patients with cholelithiasis mostly occur in the gallbladder, and only a few cases (10% to 25%) are primary in the bile duct. However, in East Asia, Southeast Asian countries including my country, especially in my country's vast coastal areas, most gallstones (50% to 90%) are primary pigment stones of the bile duct. Gallstones in different parts of the body generally have obvious differences in shape, size, and composition. Therefore, it can be inferred that their formation mechanisms are also different, and their clinical symptoms and pathological manifestations will vary from person to person.

Kidney stones refer to stones that occur in the renal calyces, renal pelvis, and the connection between the renal pelvis and ureter. Most of them are located in the renal pelvis and calyces. Renal parenchymal stones are rare. Plain films show single or multiple round, oval or obtuse triangular dense shadows in the renal area. The density is high and uniform, and the edges are mostly smooth, but some are not smooth and mulberry-shaped. The kidney is the main site for stone formation in the urinary system. Stones in any other part of the body can originate from the kidney. Ureteral stones almost all come from the kidney. Kidney stones are more likely to directly damage the kidneys than stones in any other part of the body. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are very important.

So, there are still some differences between them. So what can be done to prevent them? Here are three things you can remember:

① Preventing bile from being oversaturated with cholesterol: Obese people have too much cholesterol in their bodies and excrete more bile. On the other hand, obese patients use various methods to lose weight and consume fat tissue in the body. The cholesterol in the tissue is then excreted into the bile, which also increases the amount of cholesterol in the bile. Therefore, avoiding obesity has a positive significance.

② Increase the intake of calcium and cellulose: DCA increases the secretion of bile cholesterol, inhibits the activity of the rate-limiting enzyme in bile acid synthesis, and induces accelerated nucleation. The Ruijin Hospital of Shanghai Second Medical University analyzed more than 400 patients with gallstones and found that the serum DCA content was significantly higher than that of normal people. Foods high in calcium and fiber can reduce DCA and prevent gallstone formation.

③ Reduce the intake of saturated fatty acids: Animal experiments have shown that reducing saturated fatty acids in food can not only reduce the bile cholesterol content, but also reduce the bile nucleation activity.

④ Eat regularly and increase exercise: Recently, in animal models, a mixture of lipids and proteins or exogenous cholecystokinin (CCK) was used daily to stimulate gallbladder emptying, prevent bile stasis, and significantly reduce the occurrence of gallstones. It is recommended to eat on time, avoid long intervals between meals, and reduce the blockage time of bile acid enterohepatic circulation. When the liver secretes bile acid, the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio in the bile vesicles decreases. It is recommended to add a small meal before going to bed after three meals to shorten the fasting time overnight. Emptying the gallbladder frequently not only promotes the circulation of bile acid, but also reduces the residence time of bile in the gallbladder. This diet may increase calorie intake and there is a risk of obesity, so physical activity should be increased to promote energy consumption.

I hope the above introduction will be helpful to you. Here, I would like to remind you that both gallbladder stones and kidney stones have very high requirements for our diet. We should eat things like garlic, onions, mushrooms, and fungus, and avoid eating high-fat foods, lard, and fried foods. Finally, I hope you can pay attention to your diet and stay healthy!