The term gold bladder is an incorrect way of saying gall bladder. This may also be spelled as gallbladder or called a cholecyst. It is an organ in the human body located below the liver. It may be called nonessential because it is not necessary for people to have this organ, and many people have their gall bladders removed because of some problems they can develop.
The gall bladder’s main function is to aid in digestion of fats. It does this by accumulating bile. The liver initially produces bile which helps to break down foods, and then the cholecyst receives some of this and turns it into a concentrated bile that when released, is even more effective in breaking down fats.
Many people may never be much aware of the gall bladder or its function unless they begin to have some problems associated with it. Sometimes pieces of bile can crystallize and cause gallstones. These can make people acutely aware of this nonessential organ because they can be extremely painful, especially if the stones cause the cholecyst to became inflamed or if the stones pass into the bile duct.
Some people may also have cholecyst attacks from time to time, where the organ becomes inflamed and results in significant pain. Not all causes of these attacks are known, and they may go away after a time or worsen. If they worsen, or when gallstones occur frequently, surgeons may opt to remove the organ in a procedure called a cholecystectomy.
Cholecystectomies are most common in certain populations. Women over forty who may be overweight tend to be the most likely group requiring gall bladder removal. A common medical slang abbreviation for such women, which is not particularly flattering, is 4F. This stands for forty, fat, female and freaked, or even less flattering or appropriate terms. However, the 4F designation can greatly simplify the description of who might need a cholecystectomy. Many women under this age might require one, and obesity doesn’t have to be present; moreover some men have gall bladder problems too.
Though the body can function without a cholecyst, some people do find they have greater difficulty with digestion of fats after a cholecystectomy. Others don’t have this trouble but a few people may be more comfortable if they reduce fat intake. Fortunately, this procedure is a common one with few side effects afterwards, and many are greatly relieved from painful symptoms through the removal of this nonessential organ.
