Gallstones can
lurk inside your gallbladder. Many people have gallstones and never
know it. Gallstones are hard deposits in your gallbladder, a small
organ that stores bile, which is a digestive fluid made in the
liver. Gallstones may consist of cholesterol, salt, or bilirubin,
which is discarded red blood cells. Gallstones range in size. They
can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as an apricot.
What Causes Gallstones?
The components in bile can crystallize and harden in your
gallbladder, leading to gallstones. According to Harvard Health
Publications, 80 percent of gallstones are made of cholesterol. The
other 20 percent of gallstones are made of calcium salts and
bilirubin. These are known as pigment stones.
Cholesterol Stones
Gallstones may develop when there is too much cholesterol in the
bile secreted by your liver. Bile usually dissolves or breaks down
cholesterol. However, if your liver makes more cholesterol than your
bile can dissolve, hard stones may develop.
Bilirubin
Bilirubin is a chemical produced when your liver destroys old red
blood cells. Some conditions, such as cirrhosis of the liver and
certain blood disorders, cause your liver to produce more bilirubin
than it should. Stones form when your gallbladder cannot break down
the excess bilirubin. These hard substances are also called
pigmented stones.
Concentrated Bile
Your gallbladder needs to empty bile to be healthy and function
properly. If it fails to empty its bile content, the bile becomes
overly concentrated, which causes stones to form.
Who Is at Risk for Gallstones?
While your body produces cholesterol naturally, you can also take in
excess cholesterol through your diet. Many risk factors for
gallstones are related to diet. These include:
* being overweight or obese
* eating a diet that’s high in fat or cholesterol
* rapid weight loss within a short period of time
* eating diet that’s high in fiber
* having diabetes mellitus
Other risk factors include:
* being female
* being of American Indian or Mexican-American descent
* being pregnant
* having a family history of gallstones
* being age 60 or older
* having cirrhosis of the liver
* taking certain medications for lowering cholesterol
* taking medications that have a high estrogen content
Don’t stop taking any medicines unless you have discussed it with
your doctor.
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