Gallstones are small stones, usually made of cholesterol, that form in the gallbladder. In most cases they don't cause any symptoms and don't need to be treated.
However, if a gallstone becomes trapped in an opening (duct) inside the gallbladder, it can trigger a sudden, intense abdominal pain that usually lasts between one and five hours. This type of abdominal pain is known as biliary colic.
Some people with gallstonescan alsodevelop complications, such as inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) , which can cause:
When gallstones cause symptoms or complications, it's known as gallstone disease or cholelithiasis.
Its main purpose is to store and concentrate bile.
Bile is a liquid produced by the liver to help digest fats. It's passed from the liverinto the gallbladderthrough a series of channels known as bile ducts.
The bile is stored in the gallbladder and, over time, it becomes more concentrated, which makes it better at digesting fats. The gallbladder releases bile into the digestive system when it's needed.
Gallstones are thought to develop because of an imbalance in the chemical make-up of bile inside the gallbladder. In most cases the levels of cholesterol in bile become too high and the excess cholesterol forms into stones.
Gallstones are very common. It's estimated that more than1 in every 10 adults in the UKhas gallstones, although onlya minorityofpeople develop symptoms.
You're more at risk of developing gallstones if you're:
You can lead a perfectly normal life without a gallbladder. Your liver will still produce bile to digest food, butthe bile will just drip continuously into the small intestine, rather thanbuild up in the gallbladder.
However, deaths from gallstone diseaseare rare in the UK.
Gallstones are small stones, usually made of cholesterol, that form in the gallbladder. In most cases they do not cause any symptoms and do not need to be treated.
The most common symptom of gallstones is sudden, severe abdominal pain, known as biliary colic.
Gallstones are thought to be caused by an imbalance in the chemical make-up of bile inside the gallbladder. Bile is a liquid produced by the liver to aid digestion
Gallstones are often discovered during tests for a different condition, as they often don't cause any symptoms.
The treatment plan for gallbladder conditions will depend on how the symptoms are affecting your daily life.
In a small number of people with gallstones, serious problems can develop if the gallstones cause a severe blockage or move into another part of the digestive system.