What is the gallbladder?
The gallbladder is a small organ of the digestive system in the upper right part of the abdomen directly under the liver.
What does the gallbladder do?
The gallbladder collects and stores a liquid called bile that is produced by the liver and helps with digestion. As a response to the food we eat, especially fatty foods, the gallbladder contracts and secretes some of the bile into the small intestine to help in fat digestion and absorption.
Gallstones:
Small, hard deposits called gallstones can form in the gallbladder. Gallstones are made of cholesterol, salts, and some other chemicals. If gallstones cause any symptoms gallbladder needs to be removed by surgery. gallstones can’t be passed or broken. Using medication also has no significant effect on them.
What can cause gallstones?
The exact cause of gallstones is not known yet. These factors may increase the risk of gallstones:
- being female
being age 40 and older
having a family history of gallstones
sedentary lifestyle
Obesity
pregnancy
more than three deliveries
Drugs: high dose oral contraceptives, gemfibrozil, etc
fasting
Severe weight change (more than 700 gr per week) in a short time
having high fat and high cholesterol diet
Diabetes
certain blood conditions such as sickle cell anemia, etc.
Symptoms of gallstones:
Gallstones can be asymptomatic for a long time.
- Abdominal pain: may radiate to the shoulders or back
- Nausea and vomiting
- Heartburn and indigestion
- Bloating
- Fever
- Jaundice: Yellowish skin and eyes
- Having fever and abdominal pain and jaundice at the same time requires an emergency visit!
- change in stool color: pale or gray stool
How is abdominal pain caused by gallstones? The gallstones move and obstruct the bile duct. in response to this obstruction, the gallbladder intensively contracts and the person experiences it as severe abdominal pain.
How jaundice occurs? Bilirubin is the main constituent of bile. The accumulation of bile in the gallbladder leads to an increase in blood bilirubin, which circulates in blood vessels of the skin and eyes, causing them a yellow appearance.
