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To understand how gallbladder disease develops, you must first understand how the gallbladder works. The gallbladder is a muscular sack, small and dark green in size. Its purpose is to hold bile. The bile is first made in the liver. It travels to the gallbladder through small tubes, where it is stored until needed.
When a person eats food, a hormone is released to aid in digestion. That hormone is called cholecystokinin, or CKK for short. This hormone is what causes the gallbladder to release is bile. It contracts, which squirts bile into the small intestine. The bile then helps break down the fats in the food. -
Gallbladder disease is a common problem, especially in overweight women. Any sickness of the gallbladder is known as gallbladder disease. Gallbladder disease usually arises because the bile sent to the gallbladder from the liver is too full of cholesterol. This is a direct result of the liver being unable to process too much fat, which happens over time when a person eats too many greasy or unhealthy foods. This excess cholesterol eventually mixes with bile salts and crystallizes in the gallbladder, forming gallstones.
Gallstones can block the tubes or openings in the gallbladder. This can cause the gallbladder to become swollen or irritated to the point that there is danger of a rupture. If rupture is imminent, the gallbladder will have to be removed. Without a gallbladder, there is limited amounts of bile in the digestive tract, making the digestion of food more difficult. People who have had their gallbladder removed need to carefully watch their fat intake and may even need to take bile supplements. - Because gallstones are the most common cause of gallbladder disease, the most common treatment for a swollen or blocked gallbladder is removal of the gallstones. This does not necessarily mean the gallbladder has to be removed. Bile can be taken orally in order to dissolve the gallstones. Alternately, a solvent can be applied to the gallstones surgically to dissolve them. Gallstones can also be extracted through a catheter inserted into the gallbladder.
