Risk Factors
There are numerous risk factors involved for developing gallstones, these include:
Gender: Women are more three times more likely than males to develop gallstones. It has been suggested that oestrogen leads to increase amount of cholesterol in the bile, so females with multiple pregnancies and on oral contraceptive pills or hormonal therapies, are at a greater risk of having gallstones.
Age: Developing gallstones is directly proportional to age; i.e. there is an increased risk of gallstones in people who are forty and above.
Obesity: Leading a sedentary lifestyle with no regular exercise causes obesity which is one of the main predisposing factors for the development of gallstones. People having BMI greater than 30, leads to an increased levels of cholesterol in the body which eventually increases the cholesterol content of the bile. Location of fat is also important; with people especially women having belly fat are at a greater risk.
Genetics: Studies have shown that people with a positive family history of gallstones can lead to having gallstones.
Gender: Women are more three times more likely than males to develop gallstones. It has been suggested that oestrogen leads to increase amount of cholesterol in the bile, so females with multiple pregnancies and on oral contraceptive pills or hormonal therapies, are at a greater risk of having gallstones.
Age: Developing gallstones is directly proportional to age; i.e. there is an increased risk of gallstones in people who are forty and above.
Obesity: Leading a sedentary lifestyle with no regular exercise causes obesity which is one of the main predisposing factors for the development of gallstones. People having BMI greater than 30, leads to an increased levels of cholesterol in the body which eventually increases the cholesterol content of the bile. Location of fat is also important; with people especially women having belly fat are at a greater risk.
Genetics: Studies have shown that people with a positive family history of gallstones can lead to having gallstones.
Diabetes: High levels of triglycerides (fatty acids) in blood are common in people with diabetes, thus leading to gallstones.
Diseases: Diseases of the digestive tract for e.g. Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome IBS, scarring of the liver in liver cirrhosis and haemolytic anaemias, in which there is an increased breakdown of red blood cells RBCs for e.g. hereditary spherocytosis, sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia and malaria.
Drugs: Clofibrate- a cholesterol lowering drug lowers the body cholesterol levels but increases secretion of cholesterol in the bile. Ceftriaxone an antibiotic used for the treatment of infections such as pneumonia and meningitis may also cause gallstones.
Weight loss: Losing weight rapidly, either by undergoing surgery or dieting also leads to gallstones.
Worms: Infestation of the biliary tract by the parasites such as Ascaris lumbricoides and Chlonorchis sinensis also causes gallstones to form.
Diseases: Diseases of the digestive tract for e.g. Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome IBS, scarring of the liver in liver cirrhosis and haemolytic anaemias, in which there is an increased breakdown of red blood cells RBCs for e.g. hereditary spherocytosis, sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia and malaria.
Drugs: Clofibrate- a cholesterol lowering drug lowers the body cholesterol levels but increases secretion of cholesterol in the bile. Ceftriaxone an antibiotic used for the treatment of infections such as pneumonia and meningitis may also cause gallstones.
Weight loss: Losing weight rapidly, either by undergoing surgery or dieting also leads to gallstones.
Worms: Infestation of the biliary tract by the parasites such as Ascaris lumbricoides and Chlonorchis sinensis also causes gallstones to form.