10 Symptoms That Could Mean You’re Having a Gallbladder Attack

14. Risk Factor: Genes

Gallstone attacks appear to run in families, and researchers think genetics likely play a part. One study states that the risk of gallstone attacks is higher in some individuals due to a mutation in a gene responsible for the flow of cholesterol from the liver into the bile duct. Some people are also more susceptible to gallstones because of certain protein defects. Some ethnicities seem to experience gallstone attacks more than others, with studies pointing to a significantly higher rate among Hispanic populations in Central and South America and Native Americans, compared to other racial groups. Researchers cite a combination of genetic and dietary factors for this difference.