But if a stone gets stuck in the duct, a painful condition called biliary colic results. This can lead to serious complications and requires immediate medical attention. Incidence An estimated 20 million Americans have gallstones. Age, gender, and eating habits are all important factors in determining which people actually develop stones. People with gallstones are usually 40 years or older.
Women have more than double the chance of developing gallstones as men.
Though gallstones have been known since ancient times, they have been on the increase in industrialized countries, where overeating tends to be more common. Also, the incidence of gallstones appears to increase in countries that are developing rapidly, especially where Western diet is becoming more popular. Anywhere from a third to a half of people with gallstones never have any problems with them. But for those who do, medical treatment is usually needed to either break up or remove the stones before more serious complications develop. Nausea and vomiting may accompany the pain, which lasts for a few hours before finally subsiding.