Gallbladder Disease Symptoms

The gallbladder is a small organ located on the underside of the liver, and resembles a pear in shape. It is connected to the liver with a hepatic duct. The length and width of the gallbladder is approximately 3.5 inches and 1 inch respectively. The function of the gallbladder is to store and concentrate the bile produced by the liver. Bile helps in the digestion of fats. The digestion of fats takes place in the small intestine, which receives bile from the gallbladder. There are certain conditions that obstruct the flow of bile out of the gallbladder, which result in gallbladder diseases. Gallstones, also called cholelithiasis, is one of the major gallbladder diseases.

There are several factors that lead to gallbladder diseases. These are genetic disposition, old age (usually over 40 years), diets rich in fat content, obesity, constipation and other intestinal problems. It has been observed that females are more prone to gallbladder problems.

Common Symptoms of Gallbladder Diseases

• Unusual feeling of abdominal fullness after every meal.
• Pain in the chest, beneath the breastbone.
• Constant fatigue
• Fever
• Chills and shivering
• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Dizziness and vomiting
• Severe abdominal pain
• Pain felt either on the right side or in the upper middle part of the abdomen.
• The abdominal pain mostly occurs after meals.
• The pain in the abdomen is worse during inhalation.
• The abdominal pain is recurrent, but goes away within 12-18 hours, if the gallbladder symptoms are not that severe.
• The stomach ache radiates to the back or below the right shoulder blade.

If the aforementioned symptoms persist, you should seek medical attention. Visit a physiologist for necessary intervention. He may suggest some diagnostic tests for the proper evaluation of gallbladder disease symptoms. There are many diagnostic tests available to detect various types of gallbladder complications. Some of them are sonography, CT scan, and hepatobiliary scintigraphy. For the examination of the bile duct, a technique called cholangiography is used. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is an advanced diagnostic test to screen out problems associated with the gallbladder, bile duct and liver. The treatment of gallbladder diseases depends a lot on the patient's age, sex and medical history. Most of the gallbladder problems are effectively cured by oral medication. However, in many cases, the gallbladder is so damaged that the doctor has to conduct gallbladder surgery or the removal of the gallbladder.

Precautionary Measures for Gallbladder Diseases

• Avoid eating broccoli, cauliflower, nuts and Brussels sprouts as they contribute to the abdominal pain and other gallbladder disease symptoms.
• Cut short on foods rich in fat content as they increase the risk of recurrence of the pain-attack.
• Avoid eating over-spicy and junk food.
• Stay away from alcohol.
• Follow a balanced diet. This is always required to maintain a sound health.
• Cut down on eggs, pork, artificial sweeteners, black tea, coffee, onions, legumes, chocolates and fruits such as oranges and grapes.
• Increase the intake of certain food items such as lemons, apricots, apples, papaya, melons, and coconuts.
• Others foods which are good for you are garlic, okra, carrots, cucumber and artichoke.
• Eat lean meat, but keep the servings under check.
• Drink plenty of water.

Check Gallbladder Diet to learn how to prevent gallbladder diseases by following a healthy diet. All these measures should help ensure a happy and fulfilling life.