The gallbladder is one of those organs that most people think nothing about until there is something wrong with it. It’s part of the digestive system and helps the body be able to digest and absorb the fats that are in food. It can be found right below the liver and the bile that the liver secretes goes through the gallbladder so that it can be concentrated and used to help break foods down. It can concentrate the bile up to 10x its normal effectiveness, but only if it is healthy.
The most common day that people have with their gallbladder is Thanksgiving Day. The next day might be called Black Friday for shopping purposes, but the reality for those with a gallbladder attack is that it’s going to be a black 3 weeks in bed to recover from emergency surgery. You can live without your gallbladder by having the liver deposit the bile directly into the small intestine, but it might take some dietary changes.
1. Some Big Stones
The most common reason why people have attacks of the gallbladder is because stones can form in the organ. The stones of the gallbladder are either made from calcium or from the extra fatty cholesterols that are trying to be digested. Some of the gallbladder stones can dissolve over time thanks to the bile, but not all stones will dissolve. They might block the gallbladder or some other part of the digestive system and this creates a medical emergency.
2. Losing Weight Is a Bad Thing
Although the primary advice to someone who is overweight is to lose weight quickly, that’s a bad thing when it comes to the gallbladder. Eating a low fat diet is going to create gallstones because it will convert all of the extra carbs into fat inside the liver. Lower fat foods also promote a certain stasis of the bile. If anything, eliminate gluten because that will interfere with the contractions of the gallbladder. Fats clean out the gallbladder. Sugars stop it up.
3. Don’t Flush It
Most people don’t think about flushing out their gallbladder until they’re already in pain. If you’ve got stones, then a flush could just dislodge them and make the whole problem worse. The time to do a flush is when you’re feeling good, not bad. Consider a monthly flush for good health. Don’t consider a flush if you’re having a gallbladder attack.
4. Like a Balloon
Sometimes there aren’t any answers to why a gallbladder attack happens. Sometimes it will become inflamed for no noticeable medical reason. It can happen very quickly and require surgery within 48 hours. New surgical methods can make the procedure relatively simple and happen in just a few hours, with discharge happening the same day. If a full opening has to be created, however, recovery times can be 8-12 weeks instead of the standard 3 weeks.
The gallbladder isn’t always considered a needed organ, but it is a helpful organ. Take care of it today and it will help to take care of you.