The Symptoms Of Gall Bladder Disease
The gall bladder is a small organ situated in the close proximity of the liver, in the right upper region of the abdomen. Its main purpose is to aid the liver in the process of fat digestion, by collecting and storing bile, then releasing this substance inside the small intestine and stomach when necessary. Produced by the liver, bile has a vital role in the assimilation of vitamins A, D, E and K.
The composition of bile consists of water, bile acids, phospholipids, electrolytes and pigments. Gall bladder disease can be either caused by chemical imbalances in the composition of bile (which results in thickening of bile, leading to the formation of gallstones), physiological dysfunctions at the level of the biliary system or gall bladder infections.
In the early stages of the disease, people with gall bladder affections rarely experience pain. At first, the disease generates symptoms such as abdominal bloating, indigestion, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. As the disease progresses, patients experience radiating pain in the region of the right upper abdomen, pain that eventually moves to the lower back side.
Although lower back pain is not always very revealing for gall bladder affections, it is still considered to be an important criteria in the process of diagnosis. Recent studies have revealed the fact that gall bladder disease sufferers commonly experience lower back pain in more advanced stages of the illness.
This symptom of gall bladder disease is mostly common in patients with ages over 50, rarely occurring in younger adults or children. Gall bladder back pain can be either the result of pronounced inflammation of the gall bladder or biliary colic.
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