Gallstones are small little stones, usually made up of calcified cholesterol that is formed in your gallbladder (a small pouch like organ that store and concentrate bile, helping your body to digest fats).

Mostly this will be symptoms free, although these stones can become trapped inside one of your gallbladder ducts, causing severe pain. Other symptoms might include fever, nausea, vomiting and jaundice.

 

Risk factors:

- High cholesterol

- Obesity

- Female

- Over the age of 40

- Females with children (due to hormonal changes experienced during pregnancy)

 

Treatment:

If you remain symptom free, no treatment is required.

 

If you do develop abdominal pain, it may require removing your gallbladder surgically by using keyhole surgery. This is a relatively simple procedure.

 

Your gallbladder is not an essential organ and you can still live a normal life without it.