Okay . . . so since we were talking about the "pancreas" last week . . .
I thought a topic about the "gallbladder" would be a good thing this week.
First question . . . what is the "gallbladder" and what does it do for the body and our health???
Well . . . the "gallbladder" is a small "pouch" that sits just under the liver . . . and it "stores bile" that's "produced" by the liver.
With "bile" being . . . a "digestive fluid"
You see . . . the "gallbladder" is part of the body's "digestive system" . . . and it's main function is to store "bile".
And why is this important???
Well . . . because "bile" helps to break down "FATS" . . . and "bile" is a mixture of "cholesterol", bilirubin and bile salts.
Next question . . . what are the 3 main functions of the "gallbladder"???
Well . . . as we now know . . . 1 - is "storing bile", 2 - it "concentrates bile" and 3 - when stimulated to contract . . . it "ejects" bile into the small intestine so this part of the intestines can do its job efficiently.
But . . . if the "gallbladder" is "not" working properly . . . it can cause "bile reflux" which is when digestive fluid backs up into the stomach and some times up the esophagus.
And if severe enough . . . this can cause nausea, vomiting, gallstones and mild inflammation. And with this . . . many times the "gallbladder" becomes scarred and stiff.
You see . . . when the drainage pathway for the "bile" stored in the "gallbladder" becomes blocked (usually by a gallstone) . . . the gallbladder becomes swollen and may become infected.
Okay . . . so I'm sure you're thinking . . . what could cause the "gallbladder" to "malfunction" in the first place???
Well . . . science says . . . the most common cause of "gallbladder disease" or a "faulty" gallbladder is "gallstones" . . .
Other causes are . . . gallbladder "inflammation", biliary dyskinesia, functional gallbladder disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis and "gallbladder cancer".
But again . . . this is just what can "happen" to the "gallbladder" . . .
It's not what actually causes the "gallbladder" to malfunction in the first place.
And tomorrow we'll continue to figure this out.
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