Gallstones are formed in the gallbladder when digestive fluids produced by the liver solidify. They can range in size from tiny to about the size of a golf ball, according to Medline Plus. People can develop a single gallstone, many gallstones or gallstones that keep forming after treatments.
Types
Most gallstones are formed by an accumulation of cholesterol from bile, the solution produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder that dissolves fats. These cholesterol gallstones make up about 80 percent of all gallstones, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Other gallstones, called pigment stones, are made up of bilirubin, another component of bile.
Causes and Risk Factors
Gallstones occur because of an imbalance of components in the bile, but scientists do not know why bile develops an excess of cholesterol or bilirubin. Some known risk factors include pregnancy, diabetes, rapid weight loss, a family history of gallstones and being overweight. Women and people over age 60 are also more likely to develop gallstones. Native Americans and Mexican-Americans also tend to have higher rates than the rest of the population, the Mayo Clinic says.
Symptoms
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, most people with gallstones are asymptomatic. Those who do have signs of a gallstone usually notice the problem if the gallstone starts to move from the gallbladder to the intestines. If this happens, sudden severe pain in the upper right abdomen that tends to last for a few hours may appear.
Treatment
Gallstones that remain in the gallbladder and cause no pain can be safely left alone, and no treatment is necessary. For those who have recurring gallstone attacks or whose gallbladders are blocked, a doctor may recommend removing the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a nonessential organ, so removing it results in no major side effects. Other options are available for treating gallstones, but they are not as effective as surgery in the long run. These include sound wave therapy, in which ultrasound is used to break up the gallstone, or medication to dissolve gallstones, which is directly injected into the gallbladder or taken as a pill.
Complications
If the gallstone blocks the passage between gallbladder and intestines, known as the common bile duct, further complications can occur. If this happens, the gallbladder itself will likely become inflamed and cause intense, long-lasting pain. Some people become nauseous or develop jaundice. Others may experience fever or chills or pass clay-colored stools. If a blocked gallbladder becomes infected, the gallbladder could rupture. The pancreatic duct, between the pancreas and the common bile duct, may also become blocked by gallstones, leading to pancreatitis, explains the Mayo Clinic.
