Gallstones

About Gallstones

Gallstones are solid, stone-like deposits that can form inside the gallbladder, a small organ located beneath your liver. Your doctor may refer to this condition as cholelithiasis.

The gallbladder's primary function is to store and release bile, a fluid produced by the liver that aids in digestion. Bile also helps transport cholesterol and waste products like bilirubin out of the liver. Gallstones form when these components become imbalanced, creating solid masses.

Gallstones vary widely in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball. A person can have a single large stone or hundreds of tiny ones, and sometimes a mix of both. Many people don't even realize they have gallstones until one or more become lodged in a bile duct, causing a painful blockage.

While most gallstones are "silent" and don't cause any health issues, they can become dangerous. If you experience sudden, severe pain that lasts for several hours, it could be a sign that a gallstone is obstructing a bile duct. This is a potentially life-threatening situation that requires immediate medical attention.

Medical term: Cholelithiasis