The gallbladder rarely gets much attention—until problems arise. Many people have gallstones without ever knowing it, as most cases remain asymptomatic. However, gallbladder issues become more common with age.
In the United States alone, over 6.3 million men and 14.2 million women between the ages of 20 and 74 have gallstones. While only about 10 percent develop symptoms within five years of diagnosis, this number rises to 20 percent within two decades. Women over 60 are particularly affected.
