Gallstones
The gallbladder stores bile, which is pushed into the small intestines through ducts to help aid digestion. Sometimes the bile becomes crystallized and forms gallstones, varying in size from a tiny speck to the size of a golf ball. Gallstones can cause inflammation, nausea and pain, and can lead to an infection of the gallbladder called cholecystitis.
The most common symptoms of gallstones include:
- Abdominal bloating
- Sudden, increasing pain in the right upper area of the abdomen
- Pain between the shoulder blades
- Nausea or vomiting