Gallstones are a condition in which digestive juices accumulate in the gallbladder and become hard. Although symptoms are often not apparent, severe pain can be experienced when the stones block the bile duct. The main causes are:
Excess cholesterol: When the liver is unable to dissolve the cholesterol contained in bile, the excess cholesterol turns into crystals and then forms stones. Most gallstones are of this type.
Obesity and fatty foods: Weight gain increases the amount of cholesterol in bile. Eating foods that are too oily and fatty can slow down the function of the gallbladder and cause stones to form.
Hormonal changes: Women are more likely to develop gallstones than men. An increase in the hormone estrogen (during pregnancy or when using birth control pills) can increase cholesterol in bile.
Rapid weight loss: When you follow crash diets to lose weight very quickly, the liver excretes more cholesterol. This prevents the gallbladder from emptying properly, which leads to the formation of stones.
Diabetes and other diseases: Diabetic patients have higher levels of a fat called ‘triglyceride’, which increases the risk of stones. In addition, changes in the composition of bile in people with liver diseases (cirrhosis) can also cause stones.