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The gallbladder is small pear-shaped organ that stores bile. Bile is made in the liver and released by the gallbladder to help the body digest fats. Most gallbladder disorders involve slowed or blocked flow of bile from the gallbladder. When the flow of bile is slowed or blocked, gallbladder disorders such as cholelithiasis (gallstones) can develop.
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When a person eats, bile is released by the gallbladder to help the body digest fats. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that stores the bile produced in the liver. In gallbladder disorders, the flow of bile is slowed or blocked. Gallbladder disease can lead to infection, inflammation, and obstruction of the gallbladder. The two main types of gallbladder disease are cholelithiasis (gallstones) and cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder).
Cholelithiasis, the clinical term for gallstones, is a collection of crystals that form in the gallbladder or bile ducts. Gallstones may be as tiny as a grain of sand or up to an inch in diameter. Gallstones occur more frequently in women; heredity, obesity, and increased age are also risk factors.
Most gallstones can remain in the gallbladder for long periods without producing symptoms; some gallstones may even pass from the gallbladder through the bile ducts unnoticed. However, gallstones can become stuck and block the bile duct. This blockage can cause the classic biliary pain of gallstones, which is pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, just under the ribs. Gallstone pain often occurs after eating, when the gallbladder is stimulated to release bile; this causes the gallstones to move through the ducts along with the bile.
Occasionally, blockage causes bacteria to grow in the ducts, quickly leading to infection in the ducts, gallbladder, or liver. Gallstones can also cause inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas, the latter caused by blockage of the common bile duct that drains both the gallbladder and pancreas into the upper intestinal tract. In addition to pain, symptoms of cholelithiasis can include nausea and vomiting. Gallstone attacks can last from 30 minutes to 12 hours.
Cholecystitis is another type of gallbladder disorder. Cholecystitis is characterized by inflammation of the gallbladder, which can be either acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term). Cholecystitis can lead to sudden, steady, extreme pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, and which can be associated with fever and loss of appetite. At least 95% of people with acute cholecystitis have gallstones. Acute inflammation of the gallbladder without gallstones indicates serious gallbladder disease and may be caused by severe illness, injury, or alcohol abuse. Cholecystitis attacks can last from 2 days to a week. Cholecystitis almost always begins without infection although infection may develop later.
Both gallstones and cholecystitis require medical attention.
The information in the Gallbladder Disorders Condition Guide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. A licensed healthcare professional should be consulted for diagnosis of gallbladder disease or gallstones and treatment of any and all medical conditions.
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The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. A licensed healthcare professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.
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