Gallstones: What you need to know about Risks and Symptoms
Read on to find out more about the risks of gallstones

Gallstones are formed when liquid stored in the gallbladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. This liquid, which is called bile, is normally used to help the body digest fats. Bile is made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder until the body needs to digest fat. Then, the gallbladder contracts and pushes the bile into a tube through the bile duct into the small intestine where it aids with digestion.
The two types of gallstones are cholesterol stones and pigment stones. Cholesterol stones, which are usually yellow-green in color, are made primarily of hardened cholesterol. They account for about 80 percent of gallstones. Pigment stones, on the other hand, are small, dark stones made of bilirubin. Gallstones vary widely in size. They can be large as a grain of sand, or they can be large as a golfball.
Severe—possibly fatal—damage or infections affecting the gallbladder, liver, or pancreas can occur if any of these ducts remain blocked for a significant period of time. Warning signs of a serious problem are fever, jaundice, and persistent pain.
Cause of gallstones
One source of gallstones are deposits that build up from too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or not enough bile salts, or when the gallbladder does not empty as it should for some other reason.
Other factors in the development of gallstones include the mere presence of other gallstones, which may cause new ones to develop. Cholesterol stones may be caused by many factors.
For example, obesity is a major risk factor for gallstones, especially in women. According to a clinical study, being even moderately overweight increases the risk for developing gallstones.
Another cause that contributes to gallstones includes excess estrogen from pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, or birth control pills appears to increase cholesterol levels in bile and decrease gallbladder movement, both of which can lead to gallstones.
Ethnicity is another big factor in gallstones. Native Americans have a genetic predisposition to secrete high levels of cholesterol in bile. In fact, they have the highest rate of gallstones in the United States.
Gender also plays a role as well. Women between 20 and 60 years of age are twice as likely to develop gallstones as men.
Age is also another large factor. People over age 60 are more likely to develop gallstones than younger people.
Additionally, diabetics are at greater risk for gallstones, since they generally have high levels of fatty acids called triglycerides. These fatty acids increase the risk of gallstones.
Symptoms
Symptoms include a steady pain in the upper abdomen that increases rapidly and lasts from half an hour to several hours. Gallstone attacks usually follow meals high in fat and occur during the night. You may experience bloating, colic, belching, gas, or indigestion. See a doctor immediately if you start feeling dizzy or feverish.