What is the Gallbladder?

We all know people who had or have gallbladder problems. You probably even heard of people who have had their gall bladder completely removed. But since we can live without it have you ever wonder why we were born with it in the first place?

What is the gall bladder? It is a pouch shaped organ. It is connected to the liver by a duct. It is about 3 to 4 inches long and is about 1 inch wide.

Its function is to help in the digestion of fatty foods. Bile from the liver is stored in the gallbladder. When food is digested the gallbladder will release some of this bile and the bile will go into the small intestine. This is where the food will remain as the bile dissolves the fatty foods.

The most common disorder with the gall bladder is called gallstones. This is how this occurs. Sometimes substances in the gall bladder will hardened or crystallize. This causes inflammation in the gall bladder. Symptoms is similar to indigestion and is worse when one consumes fatty foods. Sometimes the gall stones will pass through the body naturally. Other times the stones can become lodged in the bile duct, severe pain can occur to the point where one could even pass out. When this happens surgery is usually performed.

Over 20 million Americans have gallstones. Most of these suffers are over the age of 40. Women (especially those who have had multiple pregnancies) and those who are over-weight are more likely to get them.

When the gallbladder starts acting up, showing symptoms that something is wrong, doctors label this as a gallbladder attack. An attack usually means that you are having steady pain in your upper abdomen, pain in your back between your shoulder blades, pain under your right shoulder, along with nausea and vomiting. These attacks usually occur after eating a meal high in fat. If you are having any of those symptoms along with the following you should seek immediate medical attention: sweating, chills, low grade fever, yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes and or clay colored stools.

Sometimes you may have gallstones and never show any symptoms. This is called being asymptomatic. If this is the case, you do not need any medical attention because there is no interference with the function of your gallbladder or liver.

Other symptoms that may indicate that you are having gallbladder problems is bloating of your abdomen, belching, intolerance of fatty foods, gas and indigestion.

In some cases, yes, the gallbladder itself has to be removed. This surgery is called cholecystectomy. The gallbladder is removed through a 5 to 8 inch cut in the abdomen. Over half million people each year has to have their gall bladder removed.

When the gallbladder is removed, the bile is then delivered from the liver duct to the upper part of the intestine, directly.

There are steps you can take to help keep your gallbladder healthy and to prevent gallstones.

1. Eat less fatty foods
2. Increase your fiber intake
3. Limit the amount of coffee you drink to less than 4 cups a day
4. Exercise more

Although you can live without your gallbladder it does serve a purpose and one needs to do all they can to prevent having surgery of any kind. Surgery is painful and comes with risks. For these reasons, do not take your gallbladder and its function lightly.