Gall bladder disease is usually caused by gallstones, solid structures formed from cholesterol, calcium and bile salts. Gallstones can cause cholecystitis (inflammation and swelling of the gall bladder), choledocholithiasis (occurs when gallstones accumulate inside the bile duct) cholangitis (infection of the gall bladder and bile duct) and pancreatitis.
Judging by the seriousness of gall bladder disease and its rate of development, there are two forms of the disorder: chronic cholecystitis (biliary colic) and acute cholecystitis. In the chronic form, the symptoms of gall bladder disease are milder and have a recidivating character. In the acute forms, the symptoms of gall bladder disease are very intense and in some cases suggest the development of complications.
The generalized symptoms of gall bladder disease are: abdominal pain, indigestion, vomiting, nausea, bloating of the abdomen, discomfort and pain when ingesting fatty foods. These symptoms of gall bladder disease are common in patients with chronic cholecystitis. However, apart from gall bladder pain, many patients may have no other symptoms of gall bladder disease. Gall bladder pain is characteristic to all people who suffer from gall bladder disease and it usually occurs after meals. This major symptom of gall bladder disease usually intensifies at night and after physical effort.
Persistent bitter taste in the mouth, bad breath and headaches can also be symptoms of gall bladder disease. Other symptoms of gall bladder disease are constipation and discolored stools.
In its acute form, the symptoms of gall bladder disease are accompanied by fever, sweating and severe pain attacks. Pain attacks are very intense in acute cholecystitis and they may last for a few hours. Pain episodes usually occur after meals and at night. The pain usually occurs in the abdominal region, the mid back region and under the right shoulder. Fever suggests the aggravation of gall bladder disease, occurring due to bacterial infection. Other symptoms of gall bladder disease that may indicate the development of complications are: yellowish aspect of the skin and eyes, chills, sweating and ongoing abdominal pain.
Gall bladder disease can become serious if it not treated appropriately. It is very important to pay attention to the symptoms of gall bladder disease in order to timely spot the presence of the disorder. If the symptoms of gall bladder disease don’t ameliorate after medical treatment and appropriate diet, surgery may be the only option left. However, gall bladder surgery is uncomplicated, involves minimal risks and allows patients to recover quickly after the surgical intervention. Many people with recidivating pain often decide to have their gall bladder removed even if their condition is not serious. Gall bladder surgery is a very effective way of overcoming the intense symptoms of gall bladder disease and it is also considered to be very safe and quick to recover from.
