A Guide to Gallstones

What are they? 

Gallstones are hard, pebble-like pieces of bile that develop in a person’s gallbladder, a vital organ that stores and releases bile (1). They form when the substances in bile harden. Gallstones are most common in older adults, women, overweight people, Native Americans, and Mexican Americans (2). 20% of the European population was affected by gallstone disease in 2020 (3). Being overweight or having obesity can increase an individual’s likelihood of developing gallstones. Similarly, losing weight extremely fast can also raise a person’s likelihood of forming gallstones (1). The scientific cause of gallstones is not yet clear to doctors. Some think they may occur when a person’s bile contains too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or the gallbladder does not empty completely or often enough, leading the bile to build up and become very concentrated (4). The most common type of gallstone is called a cholesterol gallstone and often looks yellow in color. Another type of gallstone is a pigment gallstone, which appears dark brown or black in color.

What are common symptoms? 

About 80% of gallstones are found unintentionally and remain asymptomatic (5). However, if a gallstone lodges in a bile duct and causes a blockage, symptoms can begin to occur. Gallbladder attacks occur when gallstones block the common bile ducts from carrying bile out of the gallbladder. These attacks usually occur after a meal and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, or pain in the abdomen, back, or under the right arm (2). Gallstone pain may last anywhere from several minutes to a few hours. Common complications of gallstones include cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, gallstone pancreatitis, and ascending cholangitis, which can range from local inflammation to life-threatening organ damage and infection (5). Signs of a serious gallstone complication can include intense abdominal pain, jaundice, or a high fever with chills, and should be reported to a doctor or healthcare professional immediately. Complications of gallstones include gallbladder inflammation, common bile duct blockage, pancreatic duct blockage, and gallbladder cancer (4). People with a history of gallstones have an increased risk of contracting gallbladder cancer, but the likelihood of that is still low. If you are not experiencing symptoms from gallstones, you do not require treatment. 

What are possible treatments? 

If you are having a gallbladder attack, the gallstones need to be treated right away, usually with surgery to remove the gallbladder. Most treatment methods involve surgery, and nonsurgical treatments are rarely used (1). Surgical methods are often used because they prevent the recurrence of gallstones by removing the gallbladder itself. Nonsurgical treatments are not used as often because they can take months or years to work, and there is a high probability of a relapse occurring once treatment stops, which is why these are proposed as options mainly for patients who are unable to undergo surgery. The gallbladder is not an essential organ, and the human body is capable of functioning without it. There are other ways bile can reach its destination in the small intestine. Ursodeoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid should not be used to treat gallstone disease, but can be used as non-surgical options for some patients for oral dissolution therapy (5, 6). A literature review conducted in 2020 found that the timing of gallstone disease treatment is an extremely important determinant of therapeutic success (3).

How can I prevent this? 

There is no proven way to 100% prevent gallstones in a person’s body. However, two of the most important actions for the prevention of gallstone disease are regular physical activity and an appropriate diet (3). A person can lower their risk by maintaining a healthy body weight through a proper diet and nutrition, but be sure to talk with a healthcare provider before making any significant changes to your eating plan. Skipping meals or eating at irregular times can also contribute to an increased risk of gallstones. Eating high-fiber foods and maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce a person’s risk of gallstones. Reduce your intake of saturated fats, trans-fats, and even deep-fried foods to lessen your risk. Additionally, avoid very-low-calorie diets because these can trigger or worsen gallstone formation. 

Sources 

Beckingham, I J. “Gallstone Disease.” PubMed Central, National Library of Medicine, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1119388/. Accessed 17 June 2026. 

“Gallstones - Niddk.” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gallstones. Accessed 17 June 2026. 

“Gallstones | Cholelithiasis | MedlinePlus.” MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, medlineplus.gov/gallstones.html. Accessed 17 June 2026. 

“Gallstones - Symptoms & Causes - Mayo Clinic.” Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gallstones/symptoms-causes/syc-203542 14. Accessed 17 June 2026. 

Gutt, Carsten, et al. “The Treatment of Gallstone Disease.” PubMed, National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32234195/. Accessed 17 June 2026.

Patel, Hiten, and Jacqueline Jepsen. “Gallstone Disease: Common Questions and Answers.” PubMed, National Library of Medicine, 

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38905549/. Accessed 17 June 2026.

Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board