Health & Fitness Tools

What Are Gallbladder Polyps? Causes, Risks, Treatment

9th November, 2010 - Posted by health news - No Comments

A gallbladder polyp is a piece of tissue that grows on the inside wall of the gallbladder, usually protruding from the interior lining. They may be tiny, but they sometimes grow to one centimeter in diameter or larger. They are usually found in about four-to-five percent of individuals who report to their doctor that they’re experiencing gallbladder pain.

The exact reason why gallbladder polyps grow isn’t clear. However, research has shown that someone who has gallstones, or is more than 50 years of age, is more likely to have gallbladder polyps than most others.

There are five kinds of gallbladder polyps.

* Cholesterosis – This type forms partially from cholesterol and is the most common.

* Adenocarcinoma – This type is actually a form of gallbladder cancer, and is therefore dangerous.

There are three other types, but they are relatively rare. They are called hyperplastic, adenomyomatosis, and cholecystosis.

Most people who have this disorder don’t even know it because gallbladder polyp symptoms are rare. However, sometimes those with gallbladder polyps will feel discomfort or tenderness in the upper right abdomen. This pain may be intermittent, or may be steady. Pain from gallstone polyps is almost never constant or severe. Severe pain, especially if it’s steady, is more likely to be a gallstone symptom.

Polyps can be discovered during a simple ultrasound examination.

In cases where polyps are detected, your doctor will schedule a follow up to test for cancer.

Most of the time, there’s no need for gallbladder polyp treatment or management. Gallbladder polyp surgery is recommended only in those unusual cases where pain or discomfort in the abdomen have become distressing. When surgery is the solution, the entire gallbladder is removed. Another name for gallbladder removal surgery is a cholecystectomy. You can live without a gallbladder, so if you’re starting to have gallbladder problems, removal may be the smartest way to prevent future trouble. Your liver is capable of handling many of the functions normally performed by the gallbladder.

Once again, cholesterosis is the most common type of gallbladder polyp, and it is formed partially by cholesterol. To avoid gallbladder polyps (in fact to avoid most types of gallbladder problems), you should eat a low cholesterol diet that includes a lot of cholesterol free foods.

You can improve your chances of preventing gallbladder polyps and other gallbladder problems by following these additional guidelines:

* eat fried foods as little as possible and reduce the amount of red meat you consume
* olive oil and vinegar are your best choices for salad dressing. Avoid dressings that contain a lot of sugar or unhealthy fats.
* stay away from high cholesterol, fatty foods and big meals just before bedtime
* If you’re on a weight loss program, make sure you shed pounds at a reasonable pace. Crash diets that cause sudden and rapid weight loss may hurt your gallbladder.

To avoid making gallbladder trouble worse if you already have problems

* avoid sodas and similar carbonated drinks
* avoid high fat dairy products in favor of lower fat types in recipes and meals
* look for lean meat when shopping; cut off excess fat before cooking.
* consider taking fish oil supplements. These contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce the amount of cholesterol in bile. Check with your doctor..
* look for opportunities to add tumeric and ginger to your meals. Both of these are beneficial for gallbladder health..

And naturally, a diet that’s good for your gallbladder will benefit your heart too, so make sure your meals include a lot of fruits, vegetables and grains.

To learn more about cancer and gallbladder polyps, click on are gallbladder polyps dangerous. Also click on gallbladder removal operation for more information about gallbladder removal surgery. Neal Kennedy is a former radio and television journalist. You can read more of his articles by clicking on Maintaining A Healthy Gallbladder.