(HealthDay News) -- Gallstones are deposits that develop in the gallbladder from sources such as excess bilirubin or cholesterol.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine says there's no surefire way to prevent gallstones, and that they're more likely to develop among women, Native Americans, other ethnic groups and people older than 40.
The agency mentions these additional risk factors for gallstones:
- Having a family history of gallstones.
- Having issues with the gallbladder, which are more common during pregnancy.
- Producing too much bilirubin, a bile pigment that's created when older or damaged red blood cells are broken down by the body.
- Having an infection of the biliary tract or cirrhosis of the liver.
- Being diabetic.
- Having had an organ or bone marrow transplant.
- Losing weight very quickly by consuming very few calories.
- Receiving intravenous feedings for a long period.
