When Gallstones Are to Blame for Your Pain

Monday, June 30, 2003

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Gallstones. One in 10 people have them. They can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a golf ball.

Women are more than twice as likely as men to have gallstones, according to the July issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. That's probably because of estrogen's role in producing cholesterol. The most common gallstones in Americans are composed mainly of undissolved cholesterol.

Most people with gallstones don't have symptoms or require treatment. But about 20 percent of people with gallstones will have a gallbladder attack — an intense, steady ache usually in the upper abdomen. The pain can be severe. Surgically removing the gallbladder is the preferred treatment.

Although you can't entirely prevent gallstones from forming, you can lower your risk by maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly and eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester
Carol Lammers
507-284-5037 (days)
507-284-2511(evenings)
email: newsbureau@mayo.edu

Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville
Erik Kaldor
904-953-2299

Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale
Anne Tewksbury
480-301-4368

Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.

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