The gallbladder, a pear-shaped organ located under the liver, functions to store bile---a substance produced by the liver that consists of water, bile salts, fats and cholesterol. The gallbladder stores the bile until it is needed by the small intestine to help digest fats. Problems involving the gallbladder, which include the formation of gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder, that interfere with its functions can affect the liver and the pancreas and interfere with the digestion and absorption of food particles, resulting in a variety of symptoms.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea, characterized by loose, watery and frequent stools, commonly occurs when normal digestive processes become inhibited. Inflammation of the gallbladder, a condition known as cholecystitis, interferes with the ability of the gallbladder to effectively deliver bile to the small intestines. Chronic cholecystitis, often caused by the presence of gallstones, can damage the gallbladder, creating scar tissue that inhibits the flow of bile. Chronic cholecysitis causes chronic diarrhea, the occurrence of 4 to 10 bowel movements each day for at least three months, as described by the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Biliary Colic
Biliary colic describes intermittent pain that occurs in the mid to right portion of the upper abdomen. The presence of gallstones in the gallbladder or in the bile ducts that lead from the gallbladder to the small intestine can cause biliary colic. The pain may feel like extreme cramping or like a gnawing pain. Approximately one-third of all patients with gallstones experience biliary colic, according to the Penn State College of Medicine.
Biliary colic occurs in episodes, often occurring at night when the position of the gallbladder makes it easy for stones to enter the bile duct, or following a high-fat meal. Biliary colic episodes typically last for one to several hours, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Nausea and Vomiting
The biliary colic pain can be so severe it triggers episodes of nausea and vomiting. In addition, a gallstone can become lodged and block the bile duct, resulting in acute cholecystitis---sudden onset of gallbladder inflammation. The presence of the inflammation causes symptoms similar to biliary colic, except the pain becomes more persistent and severe, causing nausea and vomiting.
Jaundice
When gallstones block the bile ducts, bile cannot travel to the small intestines. Instead it accumulates in the blood, causing jaundice---a condition characterized by yellowing of the skin and eyes. The jaundice occurs due to the buildup of a brownish-yellow substance found in bile known as bilirubin---a waste product produced from the breakdown of red blood cells in the liver.
