Gallstone, which is medically termed Cholelithiasis is a gallbladder disease in which there is a hardened deposit within the fluid in the gallbladder. A particular substance in the gallbladder hardens, and lumps or stones are formed. The gallbladder is located right beneath the liver, and it contains a fluid called bile that helps digest fat. Certain situations cause the gallbladder to contain gallstones, and this hinders its function of digesting fat. In this article, we will be looking at the causes, symptoms, treatments, and diet of gallstones.
Causes of Gallstones
Excess Cholesterol in the Bile
Cholesterol is a waxy and fat-like substance that is found in the blood. This substance is good at normal levels because the body needs it to build healthy cells. However, the problem arises when this substance rises to a higher level. A rise in the cholesterol level in your body can make fatty substance deposit in your blood vessel and increase your risk of having a gallbladder disease and a heart disease. The bile helps to dissolve cholesterol excreted by the liver but if the liver excretes too much cholesterol than the bile can handle, the excess cholesterol forms into a crystal and later into gallstones. [1]