Gallbladder Disease
Gallbladder disease includes inflammation, infection, stones, or obstruction of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a sac located under the liver. It stores and concentrates bile produced in the liver. Conditions that slow or obstruct the flow of bile out of the gallbladder result in gallbladder disease.
Causes
The bile stored in the gallbladder aids in the digestion of fats, and is released from the gallbladder into the upper small intestine (duodenum) in response to food (especially fats). Conditions that slow or obstruct the flow of bile out of the gallbladder result in gallbladder disease.
There are two types of gall bladder disease:
Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
Cholelithiasis (gallstones)
Symptoms
Symptoms of gallbladder disease are:
Abdominal fullness or gas
Abdominal pain that is:
-Severe
-Located on the right side (right upper quadrant) or in the upper middle of the abdomen (epigastric)
-Decreased over 12 to 18 hours in uncomplicated cases
-Recurrent or similar to pain in past
-Occurring after meals
-Worse during deep intake of breath
-Radiating to back or below the right shoulder blade
-Worse after eating or drinking fatty foods or fluids
Chest pain under the breastbone
Chills and shaking
Fever
Heartburn
Nausea and vomiting (1)
Treatment
"Acute pain from gallstones and gallbladder disease is usually treated in the hospital, where diagnostic procedures are performed to rule out other conditions and complications. There are three approaches to gallstone treatment.
-Expectant management ("wait and see")
-Nonsurgical removal of the stones
-Surgical removal of the gallbladder
Expectant Management Guidelines from the American College of Physicians state that when a person has no symptoms, the risks of both surgical and nonsurgical treatment for gallstones outweigh the benefits. Experts suggest a wait-and-see approach for such patients, which they have termed expectant management. Exceptions to this policy are those at risk for complications from gallstones, including the following:
People at risk for gallbladder cancer
Pima Native Americans
Patients with stones larger than three centimeters
One study reported that very small gallstones increase the risk for acute pancreatitis, a serious condition. Some experts therefore believe that gallstones smaller than five millimeters warrant immediate surgery." (2)
Prevention
Avoid fried food, sugar, and highly refined starches
Drink plenty of water
Recognize estrogen dominance/low progesterone and correct it by using natural progesterone cream
Consume 20 -24 grams of fiber a day (fiber supplements can help)
Do consume olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids
Do not overeat
Avoid rapid weight-loss diets
Chew your food well and relax while eating (3)
Cited:
(1) http://nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/article/001138.htm
(2) http://www.healthscout.com/ency/1/guides/000010_7.html
(3) "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause"; John R. Lee, MD with Virginia Hopkins
Back to Symptoms and Conditions