About Gallbladder Disease

The gallbladder is a tiny, pear-shaped organ that works to assist the liver. It is a helper organ, because it helps to digest fats. The gallbladder produces bile, which is a mixture of salts and cholesterol compounds that breaks down food. When a person consumes too much fat, after a period of time, the gallbladder can become less efficient. The cholesterol can become hard and form stones that pile up inside the gallbladder. However, some people who follow a good diet will still develop stones, because some stones are composed of calcium deposits, rather than cholesterol. Yet the majority of cases are still from cholesterol. As the stones get bigger, the gallbladder becomes inflamed and diseased over time.

Effects

• The effects of gallbladder disease can be quite painful. The pain is often worse than labor pains. After a large or a fatty meal, bile is produced, and stones can sometimes be pushed upward to the common bile duct, which connects the gallbladder to other organs. When a stone or a few stones (regardless of their size) get stuck, a person will suffer from a gallbladder attack. The organ will begin to spasm, which results in extreme pain.

Time Frame

• Gallbladder disease typically takes years of bad eating to develop. When an attack occurs, it can last anywhere from 20 minutes to more than 16 hours until the stone becomes dislodged. The stone will either fall back into the cavity of the gallbladder or be pushed into the small intestine and come out in a bowel movement.

Size

• The gallbladder itself is very small--the size of a small fist or pear. Stones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. People with gallbladder disease generally have many pea-sized stones.

Warning

• Some people claim that they are able to eliminate their gallstones on their own by doing cleanses at home. Only do this under the care of a naturopathic doctor. In many cases, the cleanses can work, depending on how diseased the gallbladder is. But if a person pushes out too many stones too fast, other health consequences can arise, such as pancreantitis or other complications from large stones becoming lodged in the intestines.

Prevention/Solution

• Dr. Linda Page, author of "Healthy Healing," says that gallbladder disease is much easier to prevent than reverse. Eating oranges or lemons on a daily basis can help to prevent the formation of stones. Follow a healthy diet and avoid fatty or fried foods. Gallbladder disease can also happen after or during pregnancy because of changes in hormone levels. Exercising daily can also help prevent this problem, as exercise helps to prevent a sluggish digestive system. If the disease has already set in, sometimes the only option is surgery to have the gallbladder removed. Some naturopathic doctors recommend cleanses under close supervision.