Women between 20 and 60 years old are three times more likely to get gallstones than men. That means, over 25 million individuals across the nation experience gallstones, with 65 to 75% being women. It doesn’t seem fair, but there it is. Here’s some information from the team at Premier Surgical Lawson Group in Johnson City, TN, about why women more likely to get gallstones.
Why Does Anyone Get Gallstones?
Gallstones start with bile which is a substance which assists in digesting fats and other nutrients. It is produced in the liver and transported to the gallbladder where it is stored. The presence of fat in our diet prompts the gallbladder to undergo contractions and sends the bile to the intestines.
A gallstone is solid crystallized bile. It can be tiny like the tip of a ballpoint pen or much larger. A gallstone is comprised of mostly cholesterol, and it forms when the liquid bile is more substantial than the bile salts can break down. They also form when the gallbladder doesn’t undergo contractions and release its contents.
The problem arises when gallstones block any of the ducts carrying bile to the small intestine.
What Are Common Symptoms of Gallstones?
Most people have no symptoms, and these are known as “silent” gallstones. when someone does have symptoms it is usually after a particularly fatty meal.
Symptoms can be any of the following:
- Pain in the upper right region of the abdomen
- Sometimes the pain may be in the right shoulder
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain becomes severe within an hour
If a stone becomes stuck in a duct, it can lead to more serious complications like jaundice, high fever, and chills. You should seek immediate medical attention if this occurs.
Why Are Women More Likely to Get Gallstones?
Women are more at risk due to female hormones. Estrogen elevates cholesterol levels in the bile, while progesterone decelerates the emptying process of the gallbladder.
Estrogen therapy raises the risk, and oral contraceptives elevate the risk in the first ten years of use.
Other risks that increase the risk of gallstones include:
- Obesity, since those with more fat create more estrogen
- Prompt weight loss like after bariatric surgery
- Diabetes
- Multiple pregnancies
- Family history
- Native Americans seem to secrete high levels of cholesterol in bile
- Cholesterol lowering drugs
- People over age 60
Treatment Options?
Removal of the gallbladder, or cholecystectomy, is the way gallbladder disease is usually treated. It may be removed using open surgery, or laparoscopically with just a few incisions and a small camera that allows the surgeon to see inside the abdomen. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the United States.
Contact Premier Surgical Lawson Group for surgical treatment in Johnson City, TN if you experience any of the symptoms of gallstones. Call (423) 975-5650 today to schedule a consultation, or request an appointment through our secure online form.
Sources: (27) Gallstones in Women: Understanding the Higher Risk and How to Minimise It | LinkedIn
Your gallbladder is an organ that stores bile to help you digest fat. Sometimes the gallbladder can become inflamed, infected or blocked. If these ailments occur, your physician may suggest minimally invasive gallbladder surgery, called Cholecystectomy. It’s one of the procedures most commonly performed by the physicians of Premier Surgical Lawson Group in Johnson City, TN,