A healthy gallbladder releases bile into your small intestine, where it helps break down fat from food. It enables fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients to be more easily absorbed into the bloodstream.
Problems with your gallbladder can cause pain, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms. The symptoms may come and go, but seeking treatment is essential if severe or frequent.
Dark-Colored Stools
Stool color is an essential indicator of how your bowel movements are progressing. It reflects what you’ve eaten, and the bile your digestive system produces to break down food and waste materials.
Often, the color of your stool is standard and not a cause for concern. However, dark stools may indicate a severe underlying problem. You may also be constipated if you have small, hard, or difficult-to-pass bowel movements. Make an appointment with Gastroenterology Of The Rockies if you experience constipation frequently.
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is a common symptom of gallbladder problems. Mild discomfort to severe conditions requiring hospitalization is all possible.
The pain usually starts in the upper right abdomen and moves down to your back or shoulder blades. It is called referred pain.
A recurring attack of gallbladder pain may signal that you have gallstones. If these stones don’t cause complications, your pain will go away.
If your pain is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or fever, seek medical care immediately. It is especially true if your pain doesn’t disappear or your symptoms worsen.
Vomiting
Vomiting is the violent passing of the stomach’s contents through the mouth or, less frequently, the nose. It’s usually a symptom of an underlying problem but can also be caused by motion sickness, pain or medication.
The body has evolved to protect itself from toxic things, and vomiting is how it does so. For example, when you overeat alcohol or a poisonous substance, your brain tells your stomach to purge it.
Vomiting can also occur if you have a problem with your intestines, such as an ulcer or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Bloody vomiting is another warning sign.
Nausea
The most typical sign of digestive issues is nausea. It may occur due to eating certain foods or after experiencing pain or inflammation in the stomach.
A blocked gallbladder can also cause nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. It is due to bile produced by the gallbladder not being able to break down fats.
In addition to these symptoms, you may also experience a yellowing of the whites of your eyes. It is a sign that you have gallstones. If you experience this symptom, seek treatment immediately.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is loose, watery stools that can indicate a medical problem. It can be caused by various factors and usually goes away within a few days.
A common cause of diarrhea is drinking too much sugar. High-sugar beverages like soda and fruit juice can make your bowel movements hard to control.
The gallbladder secretes bile to help your small intestine digest fats from food. It also carries waste out of your body and helps absorb fat-soluble vitamins.
Abdominal Distension
Your gallbladder is on the right side of your abdomen, below your liver. It is a tiny, pear-shaped organ. It holds a digestive fluid called bile released into your small intestine to help you digest fats.
When your bile contains too much cholesterol, bilirubin or not enough bile salts, it can form hard deposits called gallstones. These stones can be specks or the size of golf balls.
When a gallstone blocks the bile ducts, you may experience abdominal distension. You might also experience frequent bowel movements, light-colored stools and dark-colored urine.
Abdominal Swelling
Abdominal swelling is a common symptom of gallbladder problems. This condition may occur if the gallbladder doesn’t empty completely or often enough, which causes bile to build up and form gallstones.
Cholesterol gallstones and pigment gallstones are the most common types of gallstones. They usually appear yellow but can also be dark brown or black.
A person’s risk of developing gallstones increases if they have certain medical conditions, such as liver disease, diabetes, or a family history of gallbladder disease.
