The exact cause of gallstones is not known. However, there are several theories as to how this condition that can cause severe abdominal pain occurs. Check out the explanation here.
Gallstones are deposits of bile. This fluid, which consists of bile salts, cholesterol, and bilirubin, is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder before being excreted to digest fat in the small intestine.
An imbalance of components or disorders of bile secretion is thought to cause bile to settle and become gallstones.
Various Causes of Gallstones
The following are a number of factors that can trigger the formation of gallstones:
Too much cholesterol in bile
The most common cause of gallstones is excess cholesterol. In this condition, bile is unable to dissolve excess cholesterol that is excreted from the liver. As a result, excess cholesterol accumulates and settles in the gallbladder.
Gradually, cholesterol deposits in bile can collect and form gallstones. These cholesterol deposits can form only 1 stone or can also form several stones at the same time.
Excess cholesterol in bile can be caused by several things, namely:
- Overweight or obesity
- Diabetes
- Consumption of foods or drinks high in cholesterol, high in fat, and low in fiber, such as fried foods, fast food, and high-fat milk
- Consumption of foods or drinks high in sugar
- Long-term use of fibrate blood cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as gemfibrozil
- Consumption of birth control pills
Too much bilirubin in bile
Excess bilirubin can also be a cause of gallstones. Bilirubin itself is the end product of the breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis) in the liver.
Some diseases can cause the breakdown of red blood cells to increase, so that the amount of bilirubin in the bile increases. These diseases include:
- Cirrhosis
- Bile tract infection
- Chronic hepatitis
- Crescent Moon Anemia
- Thalassemia
When the bilirubin concentration is too high, the bilirubin cannot dissolve in bile. Over time, excess bilirubin will crystallize and settle into gallstones. Gallstones formed from bilirubin are usually dark brown or black in color.
Gallbladder emptying disorders
The gallbladder actually needs to be emptied regularly so that it is always healthy and can carry out its functions optimally. This emptying normally occurs whenever food arrives in the small intestine.
However, if there are conditions or abnormalities that hinder this process, bile will be retained longer and crystallize in the gallbladder. Conditions that can cause this include:
- Chronic cholecystitis
- Drastic weight loss due to diet
- Consumption of certain antibiotics, for example ceftriaxone
- Prolonged use of proton pump inhibitors
- Biliary dyskinesia or reduced ability of the gallbladder to excrete bile
In addition to the various causes of gallstones above, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk of developing gallstones, namely age over 40 years, female gender, and a family history of gallstone disease.
In addition, suffering from liver disease, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, sickle cell anemia or leukemia, and taking cholesterol-lowering drugs can also cause gallstones.
Although they rarely cause symptoms and complications, gallstones can cause serious conditions. Therefore, it is better to prevent this disease than to treat it. Now, By knowing the cause of gallstones, you will have a better idea of how to prevent this disease.
Changing your lifestyle is one simple way that you can do to avoid gallstones, for example by losing weight or maintaining an ideal body weight and improving your daily diet.
If you have risk factors or conditions that can cause gallstones, talk to your doctor. You can ask your doctor about tips or diet like what you can do to prevent gallstones.
