Gallbladder disease is a common condition, affecting about 20-25 million Americans, or 15 percent of adults, in the United States. Historically gallstones and gallbladder disease has affected adults in the 30-50 age range.
However, these conditions are now increasingly occurring in young adults and even teens, likely due to the rise in two risk factors for gallbladder diseases: obesity and diabetes. A recent study found that gallbladder diseases and complications were highly common in individuals between the ages of 21 and 25 years and gallstones were more common in teenagers than previously thought.
What is Gallbladder Disease?
Gallbladder disease includes inflammation, infection, stones or blockage of the gallbladder, a sac located under the liver that stores and concentrates bile produced in the liver. During meals, a hormone signal causes the gallbladder to contract and empty extra bile into the intestine to assist with digestion. When a gallbladder is inflamed, infected, blocked or contains stones, it can slow or block the flow of bile.
Types of gallbladder disease are gallstones, inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), gangrene and abscesses, polyp growth in the gallbladder, and tumors of the gallbladder including cancer.
Gallbladder Disease Symptoms
Common gallbladder disease symptoms include:
- Upper abdominal or chest pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Clay-colored stool
- Indigestion and excessive gas
- Bloating
- Fever
- Jaundice
- Fever and chills
Abdominal pain is usually experienced in the right upper portion of the abdomen or just below the breastbone. This pain often occurs after eating greasy or fatty food but can occur anytime. The pain may radiate to the upper back, shoulders or chest and may be severe.
When to Seek Help
Delaying treatment of gallbladder conditions often results in complications that could have been avoided. Even when symptoms are mild or absent, gallstones can produce sudden and severe illness including liver obstruction or pancreatitis, so it’s important to seek help as early as possible.
If you experience pain in your upper abdomen, especially if you are experiencing any other common gallbladder condition symptoms listed above, Austin Surgeons is here to help.
Ultrasound is the most useful test to detect gallbladder disease. This test can identify gallstones and determine if acute inflammation is present by evaluating gallbladder wall thickness, presence of surrounding fluid and size of the common bile duct.
Some patients with mild or intermittent symptoms can manage their condition with dietary changes. Usually surgical removal of the gallbladder is the treatment of choice when patients become symptomatic.
To learn more about gallbladder removal surgery, visit austinsurgeons.net or call 512-467-7151. Request an appointment online with one of our board certified general surgeons in Austin, Cedar Park or Lockhart here.
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