Gallbladder Diseases
Your source for information on Gallbladder Diseases.
The Biology of the Gallbladder
The gallbladder is a small sac-like organ that sits under the lower boder of the liver. It is green by virtue of its function, which is to store bile and release it during a meal in order to assist in the digestion of lipids and cholesterol. The gallbladder often gets distended from many causes, the most common gallstones, which can form either from high levels of cholesterol or pigment which crystalize within the gallbladder forming stones, too large to be excreted by the gallbladder into the intestines. These stones act as a block, which become lodged in the cystic duct, and cause pain as the gallbladder tries to contract to push them out.
Gallstone Pain
Did you know that gallbladder pain, known as biliary colic, is not a constant dull pain, but a sharp, knife-like, stabbing pain felt below your lowest right rib, that comes and goes in waves. What can cause this pain? Big fatty meals, late in the evening have been well known and proven to provoke biliary colic as the gallbladder tries to empty bile into the intestines to help with dissolving and absorbing the fat in the meal, a gallbladder stone may begin to block the gallbladder duct and cause pain!
