What are Gallstones?
Gallstones are collections of hard, solid material that form in the gallbladder. Some may be the size of a grain of sand, or they may be crystals that can be seen only with a microscope. Others may be the size of a golf ball. People can develop just one large stone, hundreds of smaller stones, or combinations of both.
Causes:
- Gallstones form when cholesterol and other things found in bile make stones.
- They can also form if the gallbladder does not empty as it should.
- People who are overweight or who are trying to lose weight quickly are more likely to get gallstones
- Women taking oral contraceptives.
- Women undergoing high-dose estrogen therapy
- People with a close relative who has had gallstones.
- A study revealed that a gene variant significantly increases the risk of developing gallstones
- People whose intake of dietary fat is high.
- Twice as many women get gallstones than men.
- People over 60 years of age.
- People who take statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs).
- People with diabetes
Symptoms:
- Pain on the right-hand side of the body, just below the ribs
- Back pain
- Pain in the right shoulder
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Restlessness
