What is gallbladder disease?
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Gallbladder problems or gallbladder disease occurs when the gallbladder doesn't empty properly.
Gallbladder disease usually is due to gallstones which block the exit of the gallbladder so it can't drain properly. If it continues to have difficulty draining, a lot of times the bile becomes almost stagnant and the gallbladder continues to swell, become inflamed, cause pain because it can't empty properly.
A person does not have to have gallstones to have gallbladder disease, sometimes it just more of a functional issue. Normally the gallbladder will empty approximately 35% in response to a meal, that can be measured with the HIDA scan, if the ejection for-action or percentage of emptying is less then 35%, that's a sign of gallbladder disease as well and that can be present without stones.
Gallbladder disease is a term used for a variety of conditions that can affect the gallbladder.
Usually, gallbladder disease happens when gallstones block the exit of the gallbladder.
If the gallbladder is blocked and has trouble draining, over time, the bile that sits inside will cause the gallbladder to swell, become inflamed, and cause pain, according to PHS physicians.
A person also can have gallbladder disease without gallstones, according to PHS physicians. This occurs when the gallbladder doesn’t empty at least about 35 percent when a meal is being digested.
For more information about gallbladder disease, talk with your doctor.