One of the most neglected organs in our body is the gall bladder. It is not until that the organ starts causing trouble that we pay any attention to it.
The gallbladder serves as a little sack that holds all the bile secreted by the liver. It is located right below the liver, for easy transfer of the bile.
This bile is used to break down large particles of food in the small intestine and is transferred to the intestines through the cystic duct. This in lieu helps in the easy digestion of food.
Hence, the main function of the gallbladder is to keep the digestive process running smooth.
It is only when the cystic duct is blocked or the inflow and outflow of the bile face some hindrance that problems start to surface and lead to a number of issues caused in the gallbladder which may also be partnered by excruciating gallbladder pain.
What Are Different Gallbladder Issues?
There are more than a handful of issues that can go wrong with the gallbladder, especially when much care is not laid to it. Some of the most prominent gallbladder issues that can be recognised by gallbladder attack symptoms are.
Cholecystitis (Inflamed Gallbladder):
There are a number of things that can lead to the inflammation of the gallbladder. Some of the most potent reasons behind this kind of situation are- any kind of infection, excessive consumption of alcohol, tumours and also gallstones.
All these factors can lead to the inflammation of the gallbladder in a particular area or as a whole. Amongst these causes, the gallstones become the main cause of the inflammation.
Cholelithiasis (Gallstone):
One of the most common issues found with the gallbladder is gallstones. These may vary in size, shape and colour. There might be multiple small gallstones or a handful of large ones forming in the gallbladder which may, in turn, lead to attacks of pain.
Biliary Colic:
Biliary Colic is one of the most common conditions caused by gallstones. It is a condition common to most individuals who have gallstones.
This mainly takes place when the cystic duct is blocked by the gallstones in the gallbladder, leading to the excruciating pain.
Acalculous Gallbladder Disease:
It is not necessary that every kind of problem in the gallbladder be caused due to gallstones, either in the sack or the cystic duct.
There can be other types of infections in the gallbladder that are not the result of gallstones, and these are regarded to as the Acalculous Gallbladder Disease. Here the symptoms may be similar to gallstones, without actually, them occurring.
Abscess Of The Gallbladder:
This is one of the most gruesome of all the gallbladder diseases. With the gallstones coming around there might be cases of severe infection where puss may form in certain areas of the gallbladder.
This pus is mainly the compiled formation of bacteria, white blood cells and dead tissues. The formation of empyema or pus can cause severe pain to the patient. This condition needs to be detected and treated at the most recent to avoid the growth of detrimental situations.
Gallstone Ileus:
In this case, the gallstone formed in the gallbladder moves to the intestine and blocks it. This transfer of position of the gallstone not only blocks the bile from entering the intestine to break down food particles but also stops them from entering their final stage of the digestion process.
Perforated Gallbladder:
A perforated gallbladder is an advanced stage of the gallstone. Here the gallbladder comes across a tear in its wall, which if not treated within time may lead to a severe abdominal infection that can become life-threatening.
Porcelain Gallbladder:
The outer walls of the gallbladder are very muscular in nature. The continuous deposit of calcium can make them thicker and harder, making them almost porcelain in nature. This rigidness of the gallbladder can lead to gallbladder cancer.
Gallbladder Cancer:
The most severe gallbladder disease out of the lot is gallbladder cancer. This is not very common, yet if not detected within the shortest span of time can spread beyond the gallbladder.
Many More Symptoms of Gallbladder Problems
Now that we have learned about a fair share of gallbladder problems, here is a peep into the many gallbladder symptoms that help to indicate that there is something wrong with your gallbladder.
Unusual Urination Of Stool:
When the common bile duct is obstructed, it results in the excretion of darker hued urine and lighter-hued stools. In case that you notice both or any one of these symptoms, it might be time to visit a specialist.
Jaundice:
One of the most common symptoms of gallstone or common bile duct blockage is the formation of jaundice. Symptoms like yellow tinted skin and fever are often diagnosed as jaundice.
Once you have been diagnosed with it, it is a good idea also to check the health of your gallbladder as that might be what is causing the problem.
Chronic Diarrhoea:
Frequent excretion of bowels throughout the day, on most occasions, more than 4 times can often be an indication that there is something wrong with your gallbladder. If the situation continues for more than three months, then this can surely be the case of a chronic gallbladder disease.
Fever:
If you have a fever you cannot explain or are haunted by sudden chills, it can most likely be a case of a gallbladder infection. These kinds of infection may spread beyond the gallbladder and hence require immediate attention and cure.
Nausea And Vomiting:
Nausea and Vomiting are considered to be one of the most common symptoms of gallbladder issues. Though these are common, they are mainly the symptoms of advanced and chronic gallbladder issues such as a gallstone, Gallstone Ileus, Biliary Colic, etc.
Pain:
One of the most common symptoms of gallbladder problems is a pain. The pain can be severe and hard to tolerate. These occur on the right side of the abdomen from mid to the upper area, exactly where the gallbladder is positioned.
In case that you have come across any or more of these symptoms or are in pain right now, you need to visit a doctor immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment.
