What is a Gallbladder Attack?
Millions of people suffer from gallbladder attacks every day, but are completely baffled by what causes them. As a result, almost all of them continue to do, on a daily basis, the exact things that will make their condition worse. It’s not a question of adding new things to your life, in the form of medication, but stopping what you did that has caused the pain in the first place. The first thing you need to know is that your condition was not caused by genetics. You are causing every single gallbladder attack you have by your actions throughout the day. And what are those actions? Very simply, a gallbladder attack is caused by what you eat.
But, before we get to that, I want you to know that having your gallbladder taken out is not a good option. About 750,000 people in the United States have their gallbladders removed every year. A very large portion of these people continue to have frequent gallbladder attacks well after the surgery. In other words, it is not effective at reducing a gallbladder attack AND you will be without a very important organ for the rest of your life. The gallbladder is important because it works in conjunction with your liver to remove fats, cholesterol, and other harmful waste and toxins out of the body. Since your condition was caused by your diet, removing your gallbladder and continuing to eat the same way won’t make you better. In fact, it puts you at much greater risk for other diseases. Remember, your gallbladder isn’t doing anything wrong: You are. It’s doing the best it can to keep you healthy, but you are eating in such a way to make that impossible. Taking out your gallbladder because of what you are eating would be like taking out the engine in your car, because you put in the wrong kind of gasoline and the car stopped running.
I would like to simplify this for you so you can go about this the right way and stop any future gallbladder attack. So, what is the problem with your diet? Well, let’s take a look at cholesterol, which is the prime culprit in your condition. Although a very small amount of cholesterol is necessary for good health, your liver naturally produces all the cholesterol you will ever need. However, other animals produce cholesterol too. When you eat meat and dairy foods, you take in their cholesterol which causes your cholesterol to skyrocket. This increase in cholesterol is what leads to heart disease and many other harmful conditions, including gallstones which is the cause of your gallbladder attack. You see, gallstones are actually cholesterol deposits! It is this daily action of eating unhealthy foods that causes you to have a gallbladder attack, not your gallbladder.
There are a number of gallbladder attack symptoms, but the one that’s the most obvious is pain in the abdominal region, just below the rib cage. To understand why this pain occurs, it’s helps to know what function the gallbladder performs in digestion and metabolism.
Your gallbladder looks like a small sac that sits next to your liver. The gallbladder is not very big – only about the size of your thumb. It acts as a storage depot for bile, the substance secreted by the liver which breaks down food so it’s easier for your intestines to absorb.
But sometimes, an accumulation of cholesterol or some other problem like gallstones will interfere with the process. When this happens, the gallbladder reacts by becoming irritated and inflamed. This is what causes the pain that is a characteristic sign of a gallbladder attack. The medical name for a gallbladder attack is cholecystitis.
People who have these episodes sometimes wonder why they often happen shortly after a meal. The reason is simple – especially if the meal included a lot of rich, fatty fried foods. Such meals overwhelm the gallbladder with so much cholesterol it can’t function properly. The result is pain in the abdomen, right shoulder, and sometimes even in the upper back. There can also be a number of other symptoms, including:
* Discomfort from a bloated stomach and stomach gas
* Irregular bowel movements, including diarrhea or constipation. Stools will also look lighter than normal and possibly clay-colored
* Nausea and vomiting may occur
* Fever and chills
* There could be occasional dizziness
* Some individuals experience pain above the right eye, which feels like a headache
Your doctor will choose treatment options for cholecystitis based on the cause, the frequency and the severity of your symptoms. Hospitalization is a possibility. Intravenous fluids and electrolytes may be administered help relieve pain and reduce the symptoms. You may not be permitted to eat and drink normally. Antibiotics may be administered.
Individuals who have gallbladder attack symptoms frequently may want to discuss gallbladder removal surgery with their doctor. You do not need your gallbladder to live – it is actually unnecessary. Your liver provides enough bile for your body to digest food efficiently. Removing a troublesome gallbladder can often give you relief from recurring, distressing symptoms of gallbladder attacks.
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