Your gallbladder may be small (only about four inches), but it plays a vital role in digestion. Located just under the liver, the gallbladder stores bile produced by the liver.
Responding to certain signals, the gallbladder squeezes the stored bile into the small intestine through a series of tubes. Bile is a fluid that has two main functions – carry away wastes and break down fats during digestion. The expert surgeons at Premier Surgical Associates in Knoxville, and Cleveland TN, want you to be familiar with the symptoms of gallbladder disease if you suspect you might have it.
Symptoms of Gallbladder Disease
Any condition affecting the gallbladder can cause:
• Pain
It’s the most common symptom of gallbladder disease. The pain is usually felt in the mid- to upper-right abdominal area. The intensity and frequency could vary. It can be mild, severe, intermittent, or frequent.
In some cases, the pain may also be felt in other areas of the body such as the chest and the back.
• Nausea or vomiting
This is another common symptom of gallbladder disease. In chronic cases, one may experience digestive issues such as gas or acid reflux.
• Jaundice
Yellowish discoloration of the sclera (the white outer layer of the eyeball) or the skin can be a sign of a common bile duct issue.
• Unusual color of the urine or stool
Gallbladder disease may also cause dark urine and light-colored stools.
What to do if you suspect you have a gallbladder disease
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to talk with your healthcare provider as soon as possible. If your doctor suspects you have gallbladder disease, he/she may perform some diagnostic tests and refer you to a specialist, like the surgeons at Premier Surgical Associates.
Unmanaged gallbladder disease can have serious medical consequences. So, it’s better to err on the side of caution and have your symptoms get checked.
Premier Surgical Associates of Knoxville and Cleveland, TN has board-certified surgeons who have years of experience in diagnosing and surgically treating gallbladder disease. Our team is happy to help you find the treatment option most suitable for you. To request an appointment, please visit this link https://www.premiersurgical.com/request-appointment/.