The risk of developing gallstones increases with age. In fact, gallstone incidence peaks when a person is in his sixties and seventies. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with gallstones than men; there is a 2-3: 1 ratio in this regard. Twenty-five percent of women will have a gallstone by the time they turn 60. This gender imbalance is due to the effect of the hormone estrogen, which women have more of. Estrogen stimulates the liver to remove cholesterol, and many gallstones are made from cholesterol. Women who take hormone replacement therapy pills experience an increase in risk of gallstones due to the estrogen. Hormone therapy can double or triple your risk of developing gallstones. Similarly, the birth control pill can also contribute to gallstone formation because of its effect on women's hormones. Expect increased likelihood of gallstones if you are pregnant. Pregnant women are also more likely to develop symptoms, like those listed above, than women who are not pregnant.  Seek a doctor’s opinion immediately if you suspect biliary colic or gallbladder inflammation. Gallstones may disappear after the pregnancy without surgery or medicine. Northern Europeans and Hispanics are high-risk groups for gallstones. Some Native Americans, especially tribes in Peru and Chile, have very high instances of gallstones. Family history may also matter. Having a family member with gallstones may indicate you have a higher risk. However, studies are not yet conclusive regarding this risk factor. Consult your doctor if you suffer from Crohn’s disease, cirrhosis or blood disorders as these are all risk factors for gallstones. Organ transplantation and prolonged IV feeding may also lead to gallstones. Individuals with diabetes are also at a high risk of developing both gallstones and gallbladder disease, without stones. This is likely due to weight and obesity. Obesity and frequent crash dieting have been found to increase the risk of gallstones by 12 to 30 percent. In obese people, the liver produces more cholesterol, and approximately 20 percent of gallstones are formed from cholesterol. In general, gaining and losing weight frequently can cause gallstones. The risk is highest for people who have lost more than 24 percent of their body weight and those who lose more than 3.3 pounds per week.  In addition, diets that contain high levels of fat as well as cholesterol can be the basis for the formation of cholesterol gallstones (the most common type of gallstone that appears yellow).  If you are inactive and lead a sedentary lifestyle, you are at higher risk for gallstones. The use of birth control pills at an early age, high doses of estrogen replacement therapy, chronic use of corticosteroid or cytostatic therapies, and drugs used to lower cholesterol can increase the likelihood that you will develop gallstones.
لاحظ تأثير العمر. افهم دور الجنس في الإصابة. اعلمي أن الحمل أحد عوامل الخطر. انتبهي للعوامل الجينية. فكّر بالحالات والأمراض الموجودة. اعلم أن أسلوب الحياة يعدّ من عوامل الخطر أيضًا. لاحظ أن بعض الأدوية قد تؤثر على تكوّن حصوات المرارة.