subject: What's The Cause Of Gallbladder Attacks? [print this page] A gallbladder attack is a relatively common problem that occurs when your gallbladder becomes irritated due to a variety of causes which will be described in this article. Pain from a gallbladder attack can range from mild to severe. Episodes may last a few minutes or a few hours, with the pain being felt mostly in the upper abdomen (although it may also radiate to the shoulder area and back).
Cholecystitis is the medical name for a gallbladder attack. The terms biliary disease or biliary colic may also be used.
In order to understand how a gallbladder attack takes place, it's helpful to know what the gallbladder is and the functions it performs.
Your gallbladder is a hollow organ located near your liver, and it is approximately the shape of your thumb. It stores bile, a substance produced by your liver, which helps break down the food you eat. This makes the food easier for the intestines to digest. It is especially helpful in breaking down cholesterol and fats. When you eat a meal that contains a lot of fat and cholesterol, the gallbladder can't process it all properly. It becomes irritated or inflamed, which causes the pain of a gallbladder attack. If a lot of fats and cholesterol have accumulated, it can be hours before gallbladder function returns to normal and pain subsides. People who eat a lot of fried foods often have gallbladder problems.
When a lot of cholesterol accumulates and remains in the gallbladder for a while, it can begin to harden and crystallize. Small formations may appear that look like tiny pebbles or stones. These, of course, are gallstones, which may also cause a great deal of pain. These gallstones can be minute - as tiny as a grain of sand. Or they can be very large - approximately the size of a golf ball.
Gallbladder attack pain, as mentioned previously, may appear in several places. Pain often occurs in the abdominal region, but some people also feel it in the right shoulder or the area between the shoulder blades.
You can also experience pain from several other gallbladder problems too. For instance, there can be a blockage or obstruction biliary tract, which is the the path that transports bile to the small intestine. Gallbladder infections are also possible.
Pain is the most common of gallbladder attack symptoms. Among the other symptoms are these:
* chills and fever
* constipation or diarrhea
* dizziness is common
* some people experience a headache above the right eye
* stools will look noticeably lighter or slate-colored,
* nausea and vomiting
* there could be some stomach bloating and gas
Treatment for a gallbladder attack largely centers on the intensity of the pain and the exact cause of the problem. A person who has a sudden, intensely painful gallbladder attack may need to be hospitalized. Those who have chronic, recurring attacks may require hospitalization also.
Your doctor may recommend intravenous fluids and electrolytes. Plus, you won't be allowed to eat or drink anything for a period of time.
In some cases, antibiotics are appropriate. Your doctor may also recommend inserting a tube through the nose and into the stomach to reduce fluid build up in the intestines.
If attacks happen frequently or become chronic, your doctor may recommend gallbladder removal surgery. You can actually live without your gallbladder because your liver secretes all the bile you need.
Gallbladder attacks will happen to some people no matter what they eat or how careful they are about their diet. Some people have a family history of gallbladder attacks and these individuals will not be able to avoid problems. Nonetheless, everyone can reduce their risk by eating a healthy diet that includes more low cholesterol foods. Regular, vigorous exercise also seems to help by by clearing harmful fats and excess cholesterol from your system.
(Editor's note; The words "gallbladder attack" are sometimes spelled gall bladder attack by many people. There are also common mispellings, including galblader attack, gallblader attack, and even gullblader attack.)
