A gastroenterologist has outlined the two warning signs of gallbladder disease. The condition refers to inflammation, infection, stones or blockage of the gallbladder.
Gallbladder disease and gallstones are common, affecting more than one in every 10 adults in the UK.
Located under the liver, the gallbladder is a sac that stores and concentrates bile.
Bile helps with the digestion of fat and is released from the gallbladder into your upper small intestine when you eat fats.
If you get gallbladder disease, these processes get impaired, leading to red flag signs in this area.
Dr Joseph Salhab, a board-certified gastroenterologist, took to his TikTok to share what to spot.
1. Abdominal pain
Speaking in the video, he said: “The first [symptom] is right upper quadrant or epigastric pain that’s not made better by a bowel movement or passage of flatus [gas].”
In case you aren’t aware, epigastric pain describes discomfort below the ribs in your upper abdomen area.
The doctor explained that this pain can radiate to your back or to your right shoulder.
The last tell for this sign is that it typically occurs after a meal and more often at night.
2. Discomfort after eating a meal
Dr Salhab said: “Sometimes, you can get sweating, nausea and vomiting after eating a meal that’s particularly fatty.”
He explained that this pain can last anywhere from 30 minutes to about six hours and gradually subsides.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, gallbladder disease can be diagnosed through blood tests or ultrasound and other imaging techniques.
