| The gall bladder is a small organ that is situated in the | | | | intervention. Gall bladder disease can be either chronic |
| vicinity of the liver. The liver produces bile, a substance | | | | (chronic cholecystitis or billary colic) or acute (acute |
| that has a very important role in the digestion of fat. | | | | cholecystitis). Chronic cholecystitis is less serious and |
| The gall bladder stores the bile produced by the liver | | | | generates milder symptoms, while acute cholecystitis |
| and expels it inside the small intestine when the | | | | may in some cases require surgery. |
| substance is required in the digestion of foods | | | | The gall bladder is not considered to be a vital organ |
| containing fat. | | | | and if it is removed, the body can still sustain its normal |
| Many people suffer from gall bladder disease these | | | | activity. However, in the absence of the gall bladder, |
| days. The disease has a high incidence in elderly | | | | the liver has to produce more quantities of bile |
| people and statistics indicate that around 15 percent of | | | | whenever food that contains fat enters the small |
| people with gall bladder disease have ages over 50. | | | | intestine. Without a gall bladder, food digestion and |
| Gall bladder disease mostly occurs in women, as | | | | absorption can sometimes be affected. People who |
| estrogen facilitates the development of the illness. | | | | had their gall bladder surgically removed need to |
| Children and teenagers rarely develop gall bladder | | | | respect a low-fat diet and limit the amount of food |
| disease and young patients usually suffer from milder | | | | consumed during their meals. With appropriate medical |
| forms of the disorder. Gall bladder disease has a high | | | | treatment and good diet, the body will begin to cope |
| incidence in overweight people, people with internal | | | | with the absence of the gall bladder. |
| disorders (gastro-intestinal problems) and people with | | | | There are two common medical procedures used in |
| high blood cholesterol levels. | | | | gall bladder surgery: open surgery (cholecystectomy) |
| In the majority of cases, gall bladder disease is caused | | | | and laparoscopic surgery (laparoscopic |
| by gallstones. Gallstones are formed due to the | | | | cholecystectomy). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is |
| excess of cholesterol in the bile or incomplete | | | | usually preferred by both patients and surgeons, as the |
| emptying of the gall bladder. Sometimes, gallstones are | | | | surgical intervention involves less risk and leaves less |
| formed when the gall bladder removes too much | | | | pronounced scars. This form of surgery is performed |
| water from the stored bile. Gallstones are solid | | | | with the aid of a laparoscope, a tube-shaped medical |
| formations that accumulate inside the gall bladder, | | | | instrument that has a camera attached to it. By using a |
| blocking the access of the bile. The diseased gall | | | | laparoscope, the surgery requires smaller incisions and |
| bladder can't sustain its normal activity and the process | | | | patients who suffer such surgical interventions recover |
| of digestion is perturbed. | | | | rapidly. There are many effective means of dealing |
| Gall bladder disease can usually be overcome through | | | | with gall bladder disease and it is important to see a |
| diet and medical treatments. However, in serious forms | | | | doctor if you suffer from gall bladder inappropriate |
| of the disease, doctors recommend the removal of | | | | activity. Left untreated, gall bladder disease can |
| the diseased gall bladder through the means of surgical | | | | aggravate and lead to complications. |