What Causes Gallstones to Develop?

Your gallbladder is located under the liver on the upper right side of the abdomen. You may never feel any pain of discomfort, even if you develop gallstones. However, at some point in your lifetime, the gallstones may begin to cause symptoms or problems. While gallstones can develop in the gallbladder at any time, it is generally a more drawn out process and typically may not happen overnight.

Gallstones are very common and what causes them to develop can be different for each person. Some of the common reasons follow. Keep in mind that the gallbladder is a 'sac' like organ that humans can live without. The main purpose of the gall bladder is to store bile and then release into the intestines to help with the digestion of foods. The liver produces the bile which is then stored in the gall bladder. At the right time, the bile is released. During the digestion process, the gallbladder with contract in order to send the bile on its way.

Bile is made up of cholesterol, bile salts, fats, proteins, water and bilirubin. According to doctors and medical researchers, cholesterol gall stones may develop and form in the gall bladder due to different factors. The two main types of hard formations are cholesterol and pigment gallstones. Each person may experience formations under different circumstances.

Some factors of gall stone formation can include the following factors:

1. when the gall bladder can not empty the bile during contractions
2. when the bile is made up of too much cholesterol for it to dissolve
3. when the bile salts can not break down all of the fat
4. when the bile contains an excess of bilirubin that can cause the cholesterol to form crystals

• What is the gallbladder?    
• Gallbladder diet and foods to eat      

Resources:

1. www.medicinenet.com/gallstones/page2.htm     
2. wiki.answers.com/Q/What_causes_gallstones