Why does the cholesterol in the gallbladder harden and form gallstones?

Kaye, gallstones are?

Kaye, gallstones are common (about 20% of women in developed countries). There are several types of gallstones, the most frequent being cholesterol gallstones. These can occur due to an imbalance of cholesterol and the agents that are responsible for dissolving cholesterol, both secreted by the liver. If there's too much cholesterol or too little of the dissolving agents, stones can form. Anything that causes stones to more rapidly form, like decreased function of the gallbladder or even an individual's tendency to form stones, will lead to gallstones. Less common types of gallstones stem from too much bilirubin (the breakdown product of blood) or some intestinal diseases. Gallstones are more common as we age and in females, and also with hormone therapy. Despite the role of cholesterol in forming most gallstones, there's no relationship between stone formation and cholesterol in the blood. The majority of people with gallstones, fortunately, don't have symptoms. So as long as the gallstones don't cause problems, there's nothing to worry about and nothing that needs to be done.

What causes gallstones?

Gall stonesCholesterol StonesScientists believe cholesterol stones form when bile contains too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or not enough bile salts, or when the gallbladder does not empty as it should for some other reason.Pigment StonesThe cause of pigment stones is uncertain. They tend to develop in people who have cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, and hereditary blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia, in which too much bilirubin is formed.Other FactorsIt is believed that the mere presence of gallstones may cause more gallstones to develop. However, other factors that contribute to gallstones have been identified, especially for cholesterol stones.Obesity. Obesity is a major risk factor for gallstones, especially in women. A large clinical study showed that being even moderately overweight increases the risk for developing gallstones. The most likely reason is that obesity tends to reduce the amount of bile salts in bile, resulting in more cholesterol. Obesity also decreases gallbladder emptying.Estrogen. Excess estrogen from pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, or Birth Control pills appears to increase cholesterol levels in bile and decrease gallbladder movement, both of which can lead to gallstones.Ethnicity. Native Americans have a genetic predisposition to secrete high levels of cholesterol in bile. In fact, they have the highest rate of gallstones in the United States. A majority of Native American men have gallstones by age 60. Among the Pima Indians of Arizona, 70 percent of women have gallstones by age 30. Mexican American men and women of all ages also have high rates of gallstones.Gender. Women between 20 and 60 years of age are twice as likely to develop gallstones as men.Age. People over age 60 are more likely to develop gallstones than younger people.Cholesterol-lowering drugs. Drugs that lower cholesterol levels in blood actually increase the amount of cholesterol secreted in bile. This in turn can increase the risk of gallstones.Diabetes. People with Diabetes generally have high levels of fatty acids called triglycerides. These fatty acids increase the risk of gallstones.Rapid weight loss. As the body metabolizes fat during rapid weight loss, it causes the liver to secrete extra cholesterol into bile, which can cause gallstones.Fasting. Fasting decreases gallbladder movement, causing the bile to become overconcentrated with cholesterol, which can lead to gallstones.Too much eating Fatty FoodsGallstones are caused by too much cholesterol or calcium in the bile your liver produces, which then can crystalize. Normally if they crystalize it happens in the gallbladder, but it could still happen in the ducts that connect your liver and your stomach.It's not clear what causes gallstones to form. Doctors think gallstones may result when: Your bile contains too much cholesterol. Normally, your bile contains enough chemicals to dissolve the cholesterol excreted by your liver. But if your bile contains more cholesterol than can be dissolved, the cholesterol may form into crystals and eventually into stones. Cholesterol in your bile has no relation to the levels of cholesterol in your blood.Your bile contains too much bilirubin. Bilirubin is a chemical that's produced when your body breaks down red blood cells. Certain conditions cause your liver to make too much bilirubin, including liver cirrhosis, biliary tract infections and certain blood disorders.Your gallbladder doesn't empty correctly. If your gallbladder doesn't empty completely or often enough, bile may become very concentrated and this contributes to the formation of gallstones.

How does a gall stone migrate into the pancreas causing pancreatitis?

Gallstones are hard pieces of stone-like material that can form if your bile (digestive juices) has too much cholesterol in it. The gallbladder has one purpose only: to store bile, which helps digest fats in the small intestine. But bile can become concentrated and thicken. Eventually, bile salts can combine with cholesterol to form stones. These stones can block the flow of bile from the gallbladder; gallstones are composed of a combination of crystallized cholesterol deposits or calcium crystals ionized with bilirubin. This is typically manifested as pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. Sometimes a gallstone can move out of the gallbladder and block the openings (ducts) to the pancreas (ampulla of Vata.) It is thought that the blockage causes a disruption in the chemical reactions that occur within the pancreas. This could lead to the activation of trypsin inside the pancreas and trigger the process of inflammation

What happens once gallstones are formed?

As the bile crystals aggregate to form stones, they move about, eventually occluding the outlet and preventing the gallbladder from emptying. This blockage results in irritation, inflammation, and sometimes infection (cholecystitis) of the gallbladder.

Can gallstones move to the left side?

Gallstones form in the gallbladder. Can they move around the body? Sure, they can move along your gastro-intestinal tract. Elsewhere in the body? No, of course not. They cannot pass through your organs into the rest of the body. There is a small duct from the gallbladder to the small intestines. Small stones can form in this area and grow in size over time, possibly forming a block that inhibits the gallbladder from secreting bile into your digestive tract. Yes, it is possible for small gallstones to move through this duct, into your intestines, into the colon, and out through your anus. Large gallstones will get stuck in this duct and cause severe pain, amongst other symptoms. This requires medical attention.

What causes cholelithiasis?

There are 2 main causes to cholelithiasis; cholesterol and bilirubin. The cholesterol gallstones have nothing to do with the amount of cholesterol in the blood, they just simply form randomly. The bilirubin stones are caused by too much bilirubin in your bile.

Can you get gallstones with no gallbladder?

You can still get gallstones, although they are less common after the removal of the gallbladder. Gallstones are caused by too much cholesterol or calcium in the bile your liver produces, which then can crystalize. Normally if they crystalize it happens in the gallbladder, but it could still happen in the ducts that connect your liver and your stomach.

What is the definition of acute cholocystolithiasis?

Cholelithiasis refers to the formation of rock-like crystalline deposits (gallstones or biliary calculi) in the gallbladder. Development is insidious and may remain asymptomatic for years. The major component of most (approximately 85%) gallstones is cholesterol (cholesterol-predominant or "mixed" gallstones also containing calcium salts). These occur either as a solitary stone or multiple stones of varying sizes. Others stones (approximately 15%) are composed solely of calcium salts (calcium carbonate, calcium bilirubinate) or crystallized bile pigments (bilirubin). Pigment stones are more common in Asian than in Western populations. The gallbladder stores bile, a fluid that is produced in the liver to aid in the digestion of fats. Normal bile is sterile and contains a high level of cholesterol, which usually remains in liquid form. When the bile contains too much cholesterol and/or levels of cholesterol and lecithin are imbalanced, the bile becomes supersaturated. When this occurs, solid crystals of cholesterol and calcium salts form and settle out of the liquid bile creating sludge or gallstones. Other causes of cholelithiasis include production of bile that contains inadequate amounts of certain chemicals (phospholipids or bile acids) or blockage of the ducts carrying bile from the gallbladder to the intestine (biliary stasis). Obstruction can also lead to colonization of bile with bacteria, resulting in infection. Individuals with high heme turn over (e.g., cirrhosis, hemoglobinopathies including sickle cell disease, thalassemia, spherocytosis) are predisposed to bilirubin stones. United Nations Farms

Can you vomit gallstones?

Yes, you can pass a gallstone. How to pass gallstones takes some knowledge and the ability to follow some specific directions. Here's a guide that teaches how to pass you gallstones: http://www.gallstoneadvice.com Gallstones form in your gallbladder, that is attached to your liver. The gallbladder empties into your gut. Gall stones are passed though your stools. I have passed many stones and have had them tested as well to verify.

What is the verb form of hard?

The verb form of hard is harden. As in "to harden something".

What are gallstones?

'Gallstone' means a calculus formed in the gall bladder or its ductsit's gall bladder. The stone is made up of calcium crystals, it's caused by genes and/or a diet rich in fat. Pregnant women have a higher risk of getting stones (also called calculi)

Why does the cholesterol in the gallbladder harden and form gallstones?

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