Types and Causes of Gall Bladder Stone

Types of Gall Bladder Stone

There are two main types of gallstones:

• Cholesterol gallstones

These may form if there is too much cholesterol in the bile? They are the main type of gallstones in the UK and the USA.

• Pigment gallstones

These form when the bile has too much bilirubin. They are more common among patients who have liver disease, infected bile tubes or blood disorders, such as sickle-cell anemia.

Causes of Gall Bladder Stone

Experts are not completely sure why some people develop a chemical imbalance in their gallbladder which causes gallstones, while others do not. However, we do know that gallstones are more common among:

• Overweight/obese people, especially women. A study revealed that a bulging midriff almost doubles a womans chances of developing gallstones and the need for surgery to remove them.

• Obese children have a considerably higher risk of developing gallstones, compared to kids of normal weight.

• Women who have been pregnant

• People who have recently lost lots of weight

• Intentionally losing weight and then regaining it may increase men's risk for gallstones later in life

• 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

• Native American Indians

• People who take statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs)

• People with diabetes

• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women during the menopause is linked to a higher risk of gallbladder problems.