Does Alcohol Affect the Gallbladder?

Does alcohol affect the gallbladder? What other types of damage can it cause? And what can you do to protect yourself from the health risks posed by heavy drinking?

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What Does the Gallbladder Do?

The gallbladder is a small organ that is located just below the liver. It stores bile, which is a digestive fluid that is produced by the liver. 

Bile’s primary role is to break down fats in food, so they can be absorbed into the bloodstream and converted into energy. When a person begins to eat, the gallbladder contracts, which pushes the stored bile into a duct that delivers the substance to the small intestine. 

The most common risk to the gallbladder is the development of gallstones, which result from a buildup of hardened cholesterol and other bile components. In addition to being quite painful, gallstones can also cause blockages in the duct that connects the gallbladder to the small intestine.

Symptoms of these blockages can include:

• Intense abdominal discomfort
• Fever Chills
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes)

Surgery to address gallstones typically involves the removal of the gallbladder. Once this organ has been removed, bile flows directly from the liver into the small intestine. After a brief period of adjustment, the body is usually able to digest foods normally again, allowing people to resume their typical diet.

Does Alcohol Affect the Gallbladder?

Heavy drinking can have a devastating effect on the liver, causing steatosis (fatty liver), alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis.  

Since the gallbladder is connected to the liver, does alcohol affect the gallbladder too? Not directly, but it can contribute to circumstances that can have a negative effect: 

• According to a June 2014 article in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, about one-third of patients who develop cirrhosis also have gallstones. That article also noted that “chronic alcoholism, viral C cirrhosis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are the underlying liver diseases most often associated with gallstones.”
• A September 2021 article in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology reported that occurrences of gallstones increase with the severity of liver diseases such as cirrhosis. Also, the risk of gallstones is 14 times higher among people with alcoholic cirrhosis when compared to those whose cirrhosis is due to a viral infection.

How Does Alcohol Affect Other Areas of the Body?

The liver (and, indirectly, the gallbladder) aren’t the only body parts that can be harmed by excessive alcohol use. Heavy drinking can also contribute to concerns such as:

• Heart disease
• Esophageal cancer
• Lung damage
• Pancreatitis
• Breast cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Reduced bone density
• Stroke

Can You Avoid Health Damage from Alcohol?

If you only drink in moderation, you can reduce your risk of alcohol-related health damage. But the only way to eliminate the risk completely is not to drink at all.

What Is Moderate Drinking?

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines moderate drinking as no more than two standard drinks per day for men and no more than one standard drink per day for women.

In this context, examples of a standard drink include:

• 12 oz. of regular beer (about 5% alcohol by volume, or ABV)
• 8-10 oz. of malt liquor, hard seltzer, or similar beverages (about 7% ABV)
• 5 oz. of table wine (about 12% ABV)
• 1.5 oz. of brandy, cognac, or distilled spirits (about 40% ABV)

Though moderate drinking may reduce a person’s risk of significant alcohol-related harm, it does not eliminate that risk altogether. For example, the NIAAA has reported that having even one standard drink per day can raise a woman’s risk of breast cancer by 5%-15%, when compared with women who don’t drink at all.

What Is Binge Drinking?

The likelihood of incurring serious harm due to alcohol use increases considerably if you engage in binge drinking or heavy drinking. 

As defined by the NIAAA, binge drinking is alcohol use that brings your blood alcohol content (BAC) to 0.08% or higher, which is legal limit for driving in the United States. For men, this can occur after having five or more drinks within about two hours. For women, it can happen after having four or more drinks during the same abbreviated time period.

Heavy drinking is defined as averaging 15 or more drinks per week for men, or eight or more drinks per month for women.

What Are the Signs of Alcoholism?

If a person is unable to drink only in moderation, that can be a sign that they have developed alcohol use disorder, which is the clinical term for alcoholism.

Common signs of this condition include:

• Drinking more or for a longer period than intended
• Having powerful cravings for alcohol
• Drinking in circumstances that are clearly dangerous, such as combining alcohol with other drugs, or drinking and driving
• Continuing to drink even after experiencing some type of physical, psychological, or social harm due to prior alcohol use
• Failing to pay bills, keep appointments, or fulfill other responsibilities at home, in school, or at work as a result of alcohol use
• No longer participating in important activities due to alcohol use
• Needing to drink more to achieve the effects that were previously experienced via smaller amounts of alcohol (which is referred to as developing tolerance)
• Having withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit drinking

When you are trapped in the darkness of active addiction, it can be difficult to see a way out. Please know that you are not alone. With professional help and a concerted effort on your part, you can end your alcohol use for good and begin to live a much healthier and more hopeful life in recovery. 

Find Treatment for Alcohol Addiction in Northern California

Bright Future Recovery offers a full continuum of customized treatment services for adults who have become addicted to alcohol and other drugs. Treatment options at our alcohol rehab in Northern California include detox, residential care, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and a virtual outpatient program. 

When you choose to heal with us, we will work closely with you to identify the full scope of your needs and determine which programs and services can best prepare you for successful, long-term recovery. To learn more about how we can help, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.