Some people are genetically predisposed to gallstones, but there are other risk factors, including eating a high-fat diet and being overweight. Most people with gallstones will never know they have them. But in some people they do cause problems. If a doctor suspects you have gallstones he or she will likely ask you to go for an ultrasound or computerized tomography scan or an x-ray examination called a cholecystography. Blood tests to check for liver abnormalities may also be needed.
Some people can avoid gallstone symptoms simply by avoiding triggers such as fatty foods.
If this simple measure doesn t work, there are various treatments available. A physician may recommend surgery to remove the gallbladder. In many people, this surgery can now be performed laparoscopically. The operating instruments and a camera to guide the surgeon are inserted through very small incisions in the abdomen. Recuperation from a laparoscopic surgery is usually much faster than it is with abdominal surgery.