G like gallbladder

G as in Gallblader

The gallbladder, which is also known as the cholecyst, is a small organ that is present in the abdominal cavity.  The gallbladder is a hollow organ that sits in a concave cavity just outside the liver, which is known as the gallbladder fossa.  When full, the gallbladder can hold up to 50 ml of bile at a time.  The gallbladder is a non-vital organ, which aids in digestion, and a person can manage to live without it, although the quality of life may be affected.

The function of the gallbladder is to store and concentrate bile.  Bile is a digestive liquid that is secreted in the liver, stored in between meals in the gallbladder and then is released into the duodenum after eating, once the food reaches the intestine and the digestion process begins there.

You pay particular attention to your heart, your brain, even your skin — major organs that you know must stay healthy to prevent serious health problems.  But what about those more obscure organs that seem trivial or go relatively unnoticed, like your gallbladder?

It may seem okay to forget about it, as it stays tucked away doing its job, but watch out when something goes wrong.

Typically the gallbladder doesn't cause too many problems or much concern, but if something slows or blocks the flow of bile from the gallbladder, a number of problems can result and lead to gallbladder disease.

Symptoms of Gallbladder Problems

Specific symptoms may vary based on what type of gallbladder condition you have, although many symptoms are common among the different types of gallbladder problems.  But most gallbladder symptoms start with pain in the upper abdominal area, either in the upper right or middle.

Below are common symptoms of gallbladder conditions:

·         Severe abdominal pain

·         Pain that may extend beneath the right shoulder blade or to the back

·         Pain that worsens after eating a meal, particularly fatty or greasy foods

·         Pain that feels dull, sharp, or cramps

·         Pain that increases when you breathe in deeply

·         Chest pain

·         Heartburn, indigestion, and excessive gas

·         A feeling of fullness in the abdomen

·         Vomiting, nausea, fever

·         Shaking with chills

·         Tenderness in the abdomen, particularly the right upper quadrant

·         Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

·         Stools of an unusual color (often lighter, like clay)

Some gallbladder problems, like simple gallstones that are not blocking the cystic duct, often cause no symptoms at all.  They're most often discovered during an X-ray to diagnose another condition, or even during an abdominal surgery.

NIMBLE does not offer any specific exercise for your internal organs like your gallbladder, but  to be aligned and in a correct position helps your organs to work properly without any limitation.