General Surgery Blogs

Dr. Steven Williams in Boise, Idaho

07Nov

What Causes Gallstones?

Dr. Steve Williams | Gallbladder Surgery | | View Counts (3063) |Return|

This is not a new question! People have suffered and wondered about the causes of gallstones for more than a thousand years. Egyptian mummies have been found with gallstones. 10-20% of people will develop gallstones at some point in their lives. Gallstones are either cholesterol gallstones or pigmented gallstones. The pigmented stones are created by crystallization of bilirubin, which is a substance in our bile. Cholesterol stones develop when there is abnormal metabolism of cholesterol for some reason and the cholesterol is not soluble within the bile, which also results in crystal of cholesterol.

In either case, a small nucleus of the crystal develops and then aggregates into a larger ‘stone’. Imagine a grain of sand which is like a tiny snowball and the more it rolls around it gathers more crystals and becomes larger and larger. The older you get, the more chance you have of developing them. But why? Many times this can only be chalked up to ‘bad luck’. But, there are some factors which predispose people to develop gallstones. One is heredity. Those of American Indian or Mexican heritage have increased risk. If your mother, father, or grandparent had gallstones you are at increased risk as well.

Being female increases your risk, but this is primarily due to either being pregnant or taking birth control pills. Why is it women develop gallstones more than men? Both pregnancy and oral contraceptives change the relationship in the levels of estrogen and progesterone. Both of these hormones change the relationship of cholesterol metabolism leading to crystal and then stone formation. Not everyone with high cholesterol develops gallstones and many of those who actually have cholesterol stones do not have high levels of cholesterol found in the blood. Again, it is more of a function of whether or not the cholesterol within the bile is soluble, or forms crystals.

Click here to find more information on Gallstones

Related

Do I Have to Change the Way I Eat After Gallbladder Surgery?

Do I Have to Change the Way I Eat After Gallbladder Surgery?

Most people who have their gallbladders removed do not have to alter their diet at all. Perhaps this...

Read More >
Can You Burp or Vomit After a GERD (or fundoplication) Surgery?

Can You Burp or Vomit After a GERD (or fundoplication) Surgery?

Many surgeons will tell their patients that after a fundoplication surgery for GERD or hiatal hernia...

Read More >
Is Hernia Mesh Bad?

Is Hernia Mesh Bad?

But, mesh does have its limitations and certainly, there can be complications of hernia mesh. It is ...

Read More >
The Benefits of Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery

The Benefits of Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery

If your doctor has told you that you need cholecystectomy, also known as gallbladder removal surgery...

Read More >
What is a Sports Hernia?

What is a Sports Hernia?

Many surgeons who treat Sports Hernia do not agree on the exact definition, or what fits into the “...

Read More >
Reasons to Call Your Surgeon's Office Post-Op

Reasons to Call Your Surgeon's Office Post-Op

For most people, the time after a surgical procedure is filled with resting and getting the body bac...

Read More >

Subscribe

Name

Call or Contact Us Now
Practicing General Surgery in the Boise area since 2002