Gallbladder Attack: Symptoms, Causes & Its Treatments

Suresh is suffering from some pains around his abdomen and he doesn’t know the reasons for them. Since the pains affected his work, he immediately visited a nearby hospital for diagnostic purposes. The doctors who attended him confirmed that he is having pains in the gallbladder area that need immediate medical attention. He is currently undergoing treatment for the problem and improving well.

Gallbladder attack may cause several discomforts that require proper care. Anyone who is suffering from them should seek medical advice to control them effectively. Not only that, the pains may affect a person in many ways and he/she follows a healthy lifestyle to control them.

In This Post:

What is Gallbladder Pain?

What are the Causes of Gallbladder Pain?

What are the Symptoms of Gallbladder Pains?

Diagnosis of Gallbladder Pains

Treatments for Gallbladder Pains

Tips to Prevent Gallbladder Pains

The Bottom Line

What is Gallbladder Pain?

A gallbladder is a small organ that plays an important role in storing and concentrating bile which digests the fats in a person’s diet. Bile is mainly produced by the liver and the organ stores it for the digestion process. On the other hand, some components of bile may start to build up which results in gallbladder sludge. This will result in the formation of gallstones that cause pain.

Gallstones block the release of bile from the gallbladder resulting in pains and other problems.

What are the Causes of Gallbladder Pain?

Several factors will influence gallbladder pains and one should know more about them in detail. The first reason is the inflammation of the gallbladder that is either acute or chronic that can result in some symptoms. Furthermore, calcium deposits stiffen the gallbladder walls and make them rigid. Sometimes, abnormal tissues may appear that are benign which are known as polyps. When the bile contains too much cholesterol, then it will lead to pains in the gallbladder area. Another cause is the formation of excess bilirubin that can result in pain. If a gallbladder doesn’t empty correctly, it results in gallbladder pains.

What are the Symptoms of Gallbladder Pains?

Apart from pains, gallbladder problems can lead to some other symptoms that will impact the quality of life. Nausea or vomiting is the first symptom of gallbladder pain that can result in digestive problems. Fever or chills is another symptom caused by a gallbladder problem which will lead to discomfort.

Some other symptoms of a gallbladder attack include chronic diarrhea, discolored urine, stool abnormality, and jaundice. They may result in complications when they are not handled properly.

Diagnosis of Gallbladder Pains

Those who suffer from gallbladder pains should undergo some diagnostic procedures to detect the symptoms in detail. The first test is the ultrasound which helps to find gallstones with high-quality images. A CT scan is necessary for patients to detect gallstones and their complications such as bile ducts or gallbladder blockage. Besides that, they require an MRI scan which shows detailed images of the body’s organs. Cholescintigraphy is another diagnostic test meant for gallbladder problems because it will take pictures of the biliary tracts with high accuracy. ERCP is another medical procedure that provides ways to know an existing problem.

Treatments for Gallbladder Pains

Surgery is the only solution for treating gallbladder pains that allow patients to experience the desired outcomes. It involves two types that give ways to recover from the symptoms with optimal results. Open cholecystectomy is one of them which aims at removing the gallbladder through a large cut in the abdomen. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is another surgical procedure that involves removing the gallbladder through a smaller cut. Lithotripsy is a medical treatment designed for treating gallbladder pains by applying shock waves. It will help break gallstones and other masses. A patient should know more about the details of treatment that will help gain more ideas.

Tips to Prevent Gallbladder Pains

1. Exercises 

One should consider performing exercises daily because they can prevent the formation of gallstones. Not only that, exercises allow a person to keep his/her weight in a perfect state that will reduce the pains and other problems. At the same time, it is wise to avoid heavy exercises because they will result in abdominal strains.

2. Dietary Changes 

Poor diet habits can contribute to gallbladder disease and gallstones. It is important to avoid foods that are high in fats and sugars. People should avoid taking foods that have less fat and more fibers which give ways to prevent the problem. Some of the foods to incorporate into a diet plan include citrus fruits, brown rice, nuts, olive oil, whole grains, beans, fish, and dark leafy greens.

3. Not Skipping Meals

Skipping meals may increase gallbladder problems and one shouldn’t avoid them. This is because skipping meals may result in the production of bile juices. Moreover, they will also increase the cholesterol levels in the body which will result in complications.

4. Keeping Correct Weight 

Obesity can increase gallbladder problems and one should consider maintaining his/her weight correctly. Extra pounds can make the gallbladder larger that will affect a person in many ways.

5. Eating Fresh Fruits and Vegetables 

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables allow a person to keep his/her gallbladder in good condition that will help overcome complications. It is wise to take fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins because they show ways to live a healthy lifestyle.

6. Drinking a lot of Water

Drinking a lot of water will prevent the gallstones symptoms in females by keeping the bile from building up. Also, it helps to eat fewer calories and less sugar allowing a person to stay away from potential hazards.

7. Avoiding Smoking and Alcohol

Both smoking and alcohol can lead to gallbladder issues that will result in discomfort and pains. Therefore, one should avoid them and that will help lead a healthy life. Apart from that, he/she can focus more on reducing complications effectively.

The Bottom Line

Gallbladder problems can cause severe pains and other symptoms. Therefore, people should know how to avoid them to live a trouble-free life. They should also know the types of treatments available for the symptoms which contribute more to accomplishing goals. A person should follow the preventive measures properly to minimize the effects of gallbladder disorder.