What is the cause of gallstones?

Gallstones are a relatively common disease with a relatively high incidence rate. It is very painful after the disease occurs and often causes symptoms such as abdominal distension, belching, nausea, etc. There are many causes of gallstones, which are related to diet and the age of onset. In addition, if the body is too obese, it is also easy to induce gallstones. In terms of gender ratio, the incidence rate in women is higher than that in men.

1. Age of onset:

The incidence of gallstones increases with age. If the disease occurs in childhood, it is often related to hemolysis or congenital biliary disease. The peak age of onset is between 40 and 50 years old.

2. Gender differences in onset:

The results of ultrasound diagnosis studies show that the male to female incidence ratio is approximately 1:2. Cholesterol stones are the most common gallstones in women. The high incidence of cholesterol stones in women may be related to the fact that estrogen can increase the secretion of cholesterol in bile, reduce the total amount and activity of bile acid, and progesterone affects gallbladder contraction, causing bile stasis.

3. Disease, genes and family history:

The incidence of gallstones varies significantly among races, suggesting that genetic factors are one of the pathogenesis of gallstone disease.

4. Relationship with pregnancy:

Pregnancy can promote the formation of gallstones, and the number of pregnancies is positively correlated with the incidence of gallstones. The increase in estrogen during pregnancy causes changes in the bile composition, which can increase the saturation of cholesterol in the bile; the gallbladder empties slowly during pregnancy; weight changes and dietary structure during pregnancy and postpartum also affect the bile composition, changing the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids and promoting the formation of cholesterol crystals.

5. Relationship with obesity:

Clinical and epidemiological studies have shown that obesity is an important risk factor for the development of cholesterol gallstones, and the incidence rate in obese people is three times that of people with normal weight.

6. Dietary factors:

Eating habits are the main factors affecting the formation of gallstones. People who eat low-fiber, high-calorie foods have a significantly increased incidence of gallstones. Because these foods increase the cholesterol saturation of bile. With the improvement of living standards in my country, gallbladder stones have become the main cause of cholelithiasis, and cholesterol stones are the main type.