Gallstones

Gallstones are pieces of solid matter that form in the gallbladder, a part of the digestive system that stores bile, which helps your body digest food. Gallstones form when parts of the bile form hard crystals. There are 2 types of gallstones: pigment (bilirubin) and cholesterol. Most people have cholesterol gallstones. They sometimes form as lots of small stones or may form as one big stone. A lot of times, gallstones don't cause any symptoms. When they do, some common symptoms include:

• a severe pain in the upper abdomen or right side that sometimes lasts for several hours
• pain in the right shoulder or between your shoulder blades
• nausea or throwing up
• sweating
• indigestion or stomach bloating after a fatty meal

Some factors that put you more at risk for gallstones include:

• obesity
• too much estrogen
• gender (female)
• age (over 60)
• taking drugs that lower cholesterol
• diabetes
• rapid weight loss
• fasting

Because of high levels of cholesterol in their bile, more American Indians have gallstones than other women in the United States. Among the Pima Indians of Arizona, 70% of women have gallstones by age 30.