Bile is a fluid produced in the liver. It contains waste materials such as cholesterol and substances that help to digest fats. It is stored in a bag under the liver, gallbladder, waiting to be released after meals. Gallstones are formed when the substances in the bile harden, such as cholesterol. In our population, most gallstones are caused by cholesterol because we have a lot for the liver to get rid off. People who lose weight quickly also tend to have gallstones because they eliminate the excess cholesterol that builds up when fat cells invade during weight loss.
Your gall bladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of your abdomen just below the liver. The gallbladder contains a digestive fluid called bile, which is released into the small intestine. The size of gallstones varies from a grain of sand to a golf ball. The number of gall stone differs in every individual. People with gall bladder symptoms should generally be used to remove the gall bladder. Gallstones that do not cause signs or symptoms usually do not require treatment.
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