Causes and Types of Gall Bladder Disease

The gall bladder is a small organ that is situated in the vicinity of the liver. The liver produces bile, a substance that has a very important role in the digestion of fat. The gall bladder stores the bile produced by the liver and expels it inside the small intestine when the substance is required in the digestion of foods containing fat.

Many people suffer from gall bladder disease these days. The disease has a high incidence in elderly people and statistics indicate that around 15 percent of people with gall bladder disease have ages over 50. Gall bladder disease mostly occurs in women, as estrogen facilitates the development of the illness. Children and teenagers rarely develop gall bladder disease and young patients usually suffer from milder forms of the disorder. Gall bladder disease has a high incidence in overweight people, people with internal disorders (gastro-intestinal problems) and people with high blood cholesterol levels.

In the majority of cases, gall bladder disease is caused by gallstones. Gallstones are formed due to the excess of cholesterol in the bile or incomplete emptying of the gall bladder. Sometimes, gallstones are formed when the gall bladder removes too much water from the stored bile. Gallstones are solid formations that accumulate inside the gall bladder, blocking the access of the bile. The diseased gall bladder can