Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ located below the liver's right lobe, growing up to 8-10 cm long and 4 cm wide when full of bile. Here are 10 essential facts about this vital organ:

1. Storage Function The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver, holding 30-50 ml of concentrated bile. When you eat, it releases this bile into the small intestine through the common bile duct to aid digestion.

2. Gallstone Formation Gallstones develop when cholesterol or bilirubin crystallizes in bile. Cholesterol stones are more common, while bilirubin stones typically occur in people with blood disorders.

3. Dietary Considerations A low-cholesterol, low-fat diet promotes gallbladder health. The organ functions best with healthy fats from nuts, avocados, seeds, and fatty fish.

4. Eating Patterns Matter Regular, smaller meals are better than one large daily meal. Frequent eating prevents bile from sitting too long in the gallbladder, reducing stone formation risk.

5. Weight Management While obesity increases gallstone risk, rapid weight loss can also trigger stone formation. Maintain a steady, healthy weight through gradual changes.

6. Prevalence and Risk Factors Nearly 12% of people have gallstones, but most cause no problems. Risk factors include:

• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• High cholesterol
• Family history
• Certain ethnicities
• Advanced age

7. Symptoms The main symptom is intense pain, especially after fatty meals. Pain typically occurs below the breastbone and may radiate to the back, often accompanied by nausea.

8. Diagnosis Ultrasound is the primary diagnostic tool, offering quick and accurate results. HIDA scans may be used for complex cases.

9. Complications Escaped stones can cause:

• Jaundice
• Pancreatitis
• Duct obstruction Requiring surgical intervention

10. Surgery and Recovery Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) is typically laparoscopic and outpatient. Recovery takes 4-6 weeks, with minimal long-term dietary restrictions. Most patients return to normal eating habits with no significant changes in digestion.

Most people function normally without a gallbladder, as the liver continues producing bile directly into the digestive system.

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