Gallbladder Problems - Symptoms of Gallbladder Problems

Gallbladder is a sac-like organ that is located at the base of the liver. This pear-shaped organ stores bile, the digestive enzyme produced by the liver. Inside the gallbladder, bile gets concentrated and more potent. Once the fatty food reaches the duodenum, bile is released from the gallbladder. This digestive enzyme acts upon the fatty food in the duodenum and helps in digesting the same. Like any other organ in the body, gallbladder too may develop problems, due to various factors. Let us take a look at the different gallbladder problems and their symptoms.

Gallbladder Problems and Symptoms

Though, gallbladder is a small organ with a capacity of holding 50 milliliters of bile (in adults), it may develop problems that may cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe. While most of the gallbladder problems are not life-threatening, these conditions may cause severe discomfort and even death in some rare cases. Nowadays, problems with gallbladder are getting common. Gallstones is one such condition that is also found to be involved in other gallbladder disorders. According to statistics, women are more prone to develop gallbladder issues and more than one million Americans are affected with gallstones. Another fact is that most of the symptoms of gallbladder problems mimic other digestive problems and the actual underlying problem is often misdiagnosed. So, it is always better to have some awareness about some of the common gallbladder problems and their symptoms. Scroll down for some information about the same.

Common Gallbladder Problems

Problems with gallbladder can be caused by various factors. These include medical conditions like hypothyroidism, liver problems and diabetes, fatty diet, diet low in fiber, obesity, excess estrogen, exposure to environmental toxins, heredity, etc. As mentioned earlier, one of the commonly found gallbladder problems is gallstones, which are stony deposits that develop in the gallbladder. Gallstones may vary in size and are found to be as small as sand-like grains and as big as golf balls. These deposits are either composed of calcium and bilirubin or cholesterol. Almost 80% of the gallstones are found to be made of cholesterol. Presence of gallstones may not always produce symptoms, but, this may happen when the stones block the flow of bile. Scroll down to know more about gallstones and other gallbladder diseases and disorders.

• The mere presence of gallstones in the gallbladder is termed as cholelithiasis. The condition may not cause symptoms (silent gallstones) in almost 90% of the affected people and it may remain so for decades. Symptoms arise in case of gallstones that block the flow of bile, especially the larger ones. Even those which travel to other parts of the digestive tract may cause problems.
• If the gallstones block the bile duct, the condition may result in symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The pain caused by this condition is referred to as biliary colic. This condition is characterized by pain in the right side of the upper abdominal region. This pain may last till the obstruction clears. So, such pain may be constant or last for a few hours. In most cases, a spasmodic pain develops all of a sudden and the condition is referred to as gallbladder attack.
• Obstruction of the cystic duct for more than a few hours could lead to inflammation of the gallbladder and the condition is called cholecystitis. Apart from gallstones, tumors (that cause buildup of bile), scarring of the bile duct (blocks bile flow), etc., can cause this condition. In such cases, symptoms like upper abdominal pain (right side), nausea, vomiting, bloating, etc., may happen. In severe cases, jaundice may also develop.
• Chronic cholecystitis (recurrent or persistent, mild inflammation of the gallbladder) may cause scarring of the organ that in turn becomes rigid and non-functional. Those with such dysfunctional gallbladder may experience right abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, flatulence, chronic diarrhea, bloating, etc. In most cases, these symptoms are found to be constant.
• If the common bile duct (into which the cystic duct releases bile) has more than one gallstone, the condition is called choledocholithiasis. Such a condition may obstruct bile and the stagnant bile may cause cholangitis (bacterial infection of the bile duct), apart from pain and other digestive problems. This gallbladder problem may sometimes lead to acute pancreatitis and even liver infection.
• Gallbladder cancer is also one of the gallbladder diseases. This condition may not cause symptoms of gallbladder problems, especially during the initial stages and is often detected by chance. Gallbladder may also develop benign growths called gallbladder polyps, on the inner lining. This condition is also asymptomatic and requires surgical removal, only, if they grow big.

Problems with Gallbladder - Symptoms

You might have noticed that most of these symptoms are common for almost all the gallbladder disorders. It is said that gallbladder problems can cause other symptoms that are not related to the digestive system. The severity of gallbladder symptoms may vary with the underlying condition. So, let us take a look at the common signs of gallbladder problems.

Common Symptoms of Gallbladder Problems

• Pain in the upper right part of the abdomen
• Pain may radiate to the back and shoulders
• Pain may worsen with deep inhalation
• Pain usually develops after a heavy, fatty meal, especially during night
• Pain may be accompanied with heartburn, chest pain and bloating
• Flatulence, belching, indigestion and tenderness of the abdomen
• Severe cases may develop nausea, vomiting, low-grade fever and chills
• Jaundice, yellowing of eyes and skin, clay-colored stools

These are some of the typical symptoms of gallbladder diseases. According to some health experts, there are various other symptoms that may not appear related to gallbladder problems. Such gallbladder symptoms are often overlooked and the underlying condition is left untreated till it flares up.

Atypical Symptoms of Gallbladder Problems

• Gallbladder problems are said to cause symptoms like constipation, excessive weight gain or weight loss, food cravings, loss of appetite, etc.
• Diseases and disorders of the gallbladder are also associated with hair loss, vision problems, puffy eyes, pain around eyebrows, migraine headaches, liver spots on face, itching and tooth and gum diseases.
• Those with gallbladder problems may also experience symptoms like stiff neck, frozen shoulder, back pain, joint stiffness, sciatica, etc.
• Some of them may have hormone imbalances, along with insomnia and depression. They may also get prone to infections and develop other symptoms like breathing trouble, cold extremities and numbness and tingling in the legs.

Most of these symptoms do not seem to be directly involved with the gallbladder in any way. How can you associate joint problems with gallbladder issues? This is because, the functions of bodily organs are interconnected and they work in sync with one another, so as to keep the body healthy. A problem that develops in a particular organ may affect another in a different way. So, there are chances that these symptoms are signs of gallbladder problems.

In short, gallbladder problems may cause mild to severe symptoms, as per the underlying cause. So, if you notice such symptoms of gallbladder problems, seek medical attention and get it diagnosed and treated (correct diagnosis is very important, as the above said symptoms are common for various medical conditions). Treatment may vary with the underlying condition, but surgical removal of gallbladder is recommended in many cases. Other options like dissolution therapy is not found to be fully effective in dissolving the gallstones. Some of these gallbladder problems can be controlled by adopting a low-fat diet. Frequent small meals are ideal, instead of the fat, big ones. Drink good amount of water and reduce the intake of dairy products. You must also cut down the consumption of refined carbohydrates, sugars, protein-rich foods, alcohol, etc. Avoid smoking and exercise regularly.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice. Visiting your physician is the safest way to diagnose and treat any health condition.