What causes gall bladder disease?
In some people, there is too much calcium and cholesterol in the bile. This causes the formation of small stones (the size of a pea or larger) called gall stones. The gall stones themselves are not harmful, but if one of them clogs the bile duct, the bile can become trapped in the gall bladder causing it to become inflammed. The liver continues to make bile and sends it to the gall bladder, which will contract and try to release the bile. Since the bile duct is blocked, this contraction can be extremely painful, and may lead to inflammation and/or infection. Gall bladder disease is the most prevalent in women, although men often have this condition as well. Heredity does play a role in determining who will suffer from gall bladder problems. However, such things as diet, obesity and age are important factors which contribute to the onset of this disease.
