Who is prone to gallstones?

The high-risk groups for gallstones mainly include middle-aged and elderly women, obese people, people who eat high-fat diets, and people who diet for a long time or lose weight quickly. The common characteristics of these groups of people may lead to abnormal bile composition and the formation of gallstones.

The formation of gallstones is related to many factors. Genetic factors account for a certain proportion in the occurrence of gallstones. If there is a history of gallstones in the family, the risk of disease will increase significantly. Environmental factors also have a significant impact, especially long-term high-fat, high-cholesterol diet habits, which can easily lead to oversaturation of cholesterol in bile and the formation of stones. Obese people are more susceptible to gallstones because fat metabolism disorders increase cholesterol secretion. The higher incidence rate in women is mainly due to the effect of estrogen levels on cholesterol metabolism, especially women who are pregnant or using hormone replacement therapy for a long time. In addition, rapid weight loss or long-term fasting can lead to reduced gallbladder emptying, bile stasis, and thus the formation of stones.

In order to prevent the occurrence of gallstones, we should focus on a healthy lifestyle. Maintain a balanced diet, avoid excessive intake of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods, and eat more foods rich in dietary fiber to help healthy bile metabolism. It is particularly important to control your weight, and avoid rapid weight loss or extreme dieting. Regular exercise can promote normal emptying of the gallbladder and reduce the risk of bile stasis. If you already have symptoms of gallstones such as right upper abdominal pain or nausea, you should see a doctor as soon as possible, and if necessary, use ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis, and choose methods such as drug lithotripsy, extracorporeal lithotripsy or surgical treatment according to the situation to minimize the risk of complications.