Causes of Gallbladder Problems

A gallbladder is a small pear shaped organ located right beneath the liver. This small organ is responsible for storing the bile, which helps in the digestion of fatty food items which are high in cholesterol. However, there are many factors that can lead to gallbladder problems. As per statistics, almost 20% of people over 40 years of age suffer from some or the other gallbladder problems in the United States alone! Also, women have two times more chances of suffering from gallbladder problems as compared to men. The most common gallbladder problem that one suffers from is the occurrence of gallstones in the gallbladder. However, this is not the only problem that is included in the list! We shall discuss more about the causes of gallbladder disease as we proceed further with this article. Read on...

What are the Causes of Gallbladder Attack?

The gallbladder is located on the right hand side of the abdomen, right below the liver. The condition wherein you suffer discomfort or pain in the area where the abdomen is located is known as a gallbladder attack! The signs and symptoms of gallbladder problems may vary from person to person. While some may experience immense pain and discomfort, others may show no symptoms at all! Because the signs and symptoms are so common in nature, many of the patients tend to ignore it thinking that it is just a temporary discomfort. For example, symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, etc are similar to something that we experience in our daily lives. Therefore it is important to listen to your body as ignorance isn't always bliss! As mentioned earlier, the main gallbladder problem that occurs mostly in all the prevalent cases is the formation of gallstones. The exact cause why gallstones occur in some people and not the others is not known. Mentioned below are the most common gallbladder disease causes. Have a look.

• High cholesterol diet causes the crystallization of the fats in the gallbladder causing gallstones.
• Discomfort can also be caused due to the back up of the bile present in the bladder which may or may not contain stones.
• Another cause of gallbladder problem can be a condition called cholecystitis which results in discomfort due to inflammation of the gallbladder.
• Hyperthyroidism is also known to be closely associated with gallbladder problems. This condition can slow down the metabolism of the person, which can in turn affect the rate of digestion of fatty foods. The debris then accumulate and crystallize forming stones in the gallbladder.
• Certain food allergies also contribute as a triggering factor for the development of gallbladder problems. They can result in the production of histamine which can result in excessive fluid accumulation in the bile duct of the gallbladder. This can result in bile back up and can cause swelling and pain in the gallbladder, resulting in a gallbladder attack.

Risk Factors

The reason why some people are more prone to develop gallbladder problems and some aren't, depends upon many factors. Mentioned below are some risk factors that contribute in the development of gallbladder problems and diseases.

• Obesity and excess weight than the normal range.
• Consumption of high fat and high cholesterol foods.
• Sudden weight loss.
• Diabetes
• Extremely low calorie diet
• Age more than 40 years. Mostly people develop gallbladder problems after this age.
• Too much intake of contraceptive pills.
• Pregnancy can also trigger gallbladder problems due to rise of estrogen levels.
• Ethnicity also matters when it comes to the risk factors of developing gallbladder diseases.
• Consumption of drugs that help lower the cholesterol levels.
• Family history of gallbladder problems.
• Lack of sufficient fibers in the diet can also be a contributing factor.
• Lack of physical activities and exercises and consuming foods that contain saturated fats.

Whenever you felt discomfort in your abdominal area, especially where the gallbladder is located, you generally took a pain killer and let the pain subside, without even giving medical attention a serious thought! However, now after going through the risk factors and causes of gallbladder problems, I am sure the next time you suffer from an abdominal pain, you would definitely consider the causes mentioned above, and seek medical assistance to get yourself thoroughly checked to prevent further complications. Take care.