The job of the gallbladder, which lies under the liver, is to store and thicken bile to help with digestion, said Jackson. Gallstones, which cause most gallbladder problems, result from excess cholesterol that collects in the bile. Experts believe estrogen accounts for the increased incidence in women. Hormone replacement therapy increases the risk. so does pregnancy. Other risk factors include obesity, diabetes, rapid weight loss (including in some patients with gastric bypass), getting older and having a first degree relative troubled by it.
The most common gallbladder problem, biliary colic, shows up as pain, typically in the upper right abdomen near the rib cage. It’s caused by temporary obstruction. Don’t be fooled by the location, though, Jackson warned. It can be felt elsewhere, as well — high or low in the back, left or right side (left is unusual). Nausea and vomiting are common and it usually gets worse after you eat fatty foods. Limiting cholesterol intake may reduce gallbladder attacks. But it won’t make the stones go away.
Biliary colic is uncomfortable, but not dangerous. The treatment, if needed, is typically elective laparoscopic surgery, Jackson said.