One of the most characteristic symptoms of Gallbladder disease is the so called gallbladder attack. During the attack, the affected person goes through several different symptoms:
- severe pain in upper-right part of the stomach
- nausea or vomiting
- burping and/or belching
- unwanted gasses
- dizziness
- loss of appetite
The Gallbladder Attacks usually occur after the patient has a heavy (fatty and greasy) meal at night. People having gallbladder problems should avoid fatty foods because they can result in severe gallbladder attacks. The duration of the attack varies from 15 minutes to a few hours. The affected individuals might also suffer from a loss of appetite.
And now, a bit more about the pain. The intensity of the pain can increase when the patient breathes deeply or when he/she touches the upper-right part of the stomach. This pain can spread to the back and between the shoulder blades. However, many of these symptoms may be the symptoms of some other digestive diseases, it is recommended to have some test to confirm whether you are having problems with your gallbladder or something else is in question.
Gallbladder Disease Treatment
Some of the tests the affected person may have are:
- Computed tomography
- Ultrasound
- Hepatobiliary scintigraphy
- Cholangiography
In case the test confirms that there is an inflammation of the gallbladder or that there are gallbladder stones present, your doctor would probably prescribe some oral medications to start with the treatment. These medications usually break-down and dissolve the gallstones.
The gallstones can be also broken-down with the use of a shock wave therapy However, in most Cases Doctors Recommend some dietary changes to be made. This happens mainly because fatty foods are the main cause of gallbladder problems. The patient should follow a low-fat diet and consume foods loaded with antioxidants. Additionally, there are foods the patient should avoid like: French fries, cookies, cakes, white bread, margarine, and similar. The consumption of alcohol and smoking has to be avoided too.
On the other hand, if the symptoms of gallbladder attacks are severe, surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is necessary. In most cases, doctors recommend a laparoscopic surgery because it is much less risky and leaves much smaller scars.
As you may already guess, by changing your eating habits you can successfully prevent having any gallbladder problems. However, if you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, consult your doctor for an early diagnosis and treatment.
