Gallbladder Attack Relief

The gallbladder is a tiny pear-shaped sac that is located under the liver. It aids in the process of digestion by storing bile, a digestive juice produced by the liver. Gallbladder performs the task of storing and concentrating bile. Bile is essential for the emulsification of fats. Let me tell you how it all works. Ingestion of fatty foods paves way for the release of a hormone called cholecystokinin. Cholecystokinin causes the gallbladder to contract, as a result, bile moves from the gallbladder into the duodenum.

Various health problems could occur if the gallbladder function gets affected. Most of the time, gallbladder dysfunction is caused due to unhealthy eating habits. Excessive consumption of fatty foods or foods rich in cholesterol is most likely to cause gallbladder problems. Crystallization of bile salts or cholesterol could also lead to formation of gallstones. When these get lodged in the bile duct, one is most likely to experience distressing symptoms.

Symptoms

When the gallbladder is not functioning properly, the body is unable to digest fats. As a result, consumption of foods rich in cholesterol can aggravate gallbladder pain. No wonder, consumption of a fatty meal is most likely to cause an attack. The intensity of the pain varies depending on how inflamed the gallbladder is. As far as the duration of the attack is concerned, it could range from 15 minutes to several hours. Besides pain in the upper abdomen, other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, indigestion, bloating, belching, gas, burping, dizziness and queasiness. Sometimes, one might even experience right-sided chest pain. The pain might be constant or intermittent. It could be dull or excruciating. Pain could even radiate to the shoulder blades.

Treatment

If doctors suspect that the patient may be suffering from a gallbladder dysfunction, imaging procedures such as ultrasound, computerized tomography and diagnostic tests such as hepatobiliary scintigraphy and cholangiography might be conducted to determine the extent of inflammation. Generally drugs or antibiotics are prescribed to alleviate the symptoms of gallbladder disorders. Application of a heat pad can help in providing gallbladder pain relief. Put a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of apple juice. Drinking this may help.

Using herbs such as dandelion and chicory might also help. Pear, beet juice and cucumber are also helpful in gallbladder cleansing. Following a healthy diet is the best way to keep your gallbladder in a healthy condition. Since pain and other symptoms are generally triggered due to consumption of fatty meals, you must make some changes to your diet. Refrain from consuming fatty foods. Include fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet. Consuming foods rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids will also prove beneficial in gallbladder pain treatment. Those who are suffering from gallstones can try natural remedies to alleviate the symptoms. If natural remedies don't work, shock wave therapy and oral bile acid might be used for breaking and dissolving the gallstones. In severe cases, surgery might be needed. After you undergo surgery for gallbladder removal, you must strictly adhere to the dietary guidelines suggested by the doctors.

If you have been suffering from symptoms of gallbladder dysfunction, you can follow the aforementioned remedies for gallbladder attack relief. If these don't seem to provide you relief, consult a doctor immediately. An early diagnosis will surely help in the successful treatment of this condition.