A gallbladder attack is characterized by pain that may last several minutes or several hours. The pain can range from mild to severe. It is typically a symptom of a gallbladder problem or some form of gallbladder disease. It occurs when the gallbladder becomes inflamed for irritated for reasons that will be described below.

The medical name for a gallbladder attack is cholecystitis. The names biliary colic or biliary disease may also be applied.

In order to comprehend how a gallbladder attack takes place, it’s helpful to know what the gallbladder is and the functions it performs.

Your gallbladder resembles a human thumb. It is a hollow organ located next to your liver. It stores bile, a substance produced by your liver, which helps break down the food you eat. This makes the food easier for the intestines to digest. Bile is essential for metabolizing cholesterol and fats. Eating a cholesterol-rich or fatty meal can overload the gallbladder, causing it to become inflamed and irritated. This results in the pain of a gallbladder attack. Discomfort can continue for hours until gallbladder function returns to normal and irritation subsides. Someone who eats a lot of fried foods is much more prone to have gallbladder attacks than someone who doesn’t.

Cholesterol and other substances in the gallbladder might even harden into pebble-like formations called gallstones. Gallstones vary in size. They might be tiny - nearly microscopic. But they can also be as large as a golf ball.

As noted above, you can feel the pain and discomfort of a gallbladder attack in several areas of your body. The most common area is the abdomen just below the ribcage (where the gallbladder is actually located). But it can also extend to the right shoulder or the upper back between the shoulder blades.

You can also experience pain that feels like a gallbladder attack for several other reasons. Pain is also possible when there’s a gallbladder infection or obstruction in the biliary tract which transports bile to the small intestine.

Pain is the most recognizable symptom of a gallbladder attack. Among the other symptoms are these:

* chills and fever
* bowel irregularities: either constipation or diarrhea
* dizziness sometimes occurs
* sometimes there’s a headache above the right eye
* stools will look lighter or slate-colored
* some nausea or vomiting may take place
* stomach bloating is general, as is an unusual amount of flatulence

When treating a gallbladder attack, your doctor will think about your level of discomfort and the cause of the attack. A person who has a sudden, intensely painful gallbladder attack might need to be hospitalized. Those who have chronic, recurring attacks might require hospitalization also.

Your doctor might recommend intravenous fluids and electrolytes. Plus, you won’t be allowed to eat or drink anything for a period of time.

Fluids can build up in the intestines when you’ve gallbladder problems. Your doctor might place a tube through the nose and into the stomach to keep it empty. He or she may also order antibiotics.

Gallbladder removal surgery is a treatment option if attacks become frequent or chronic. Since you don’t need your gallbladder to live, your physician might suggest removing it to prevent future problems.

Sometimes, preventing a gallbladder attack is impossible. Some people have a family history of gallbladder attacks and these individuals will not be able to avoid problems. For the most part though, it’s possible to reduce your chances of having gallbladder attacks if your diet includes more low-fat, low-cholesterol foods. Regular exercise also helps by clearing the system of excess fats and cholesterol.

(Editor’s note; The words “gallbladder attack” are frequently spelled gall bladder attack by many people. There are also some typical mispellings, including galblader attack, gallblader attack, and even gullblader attack.)

Click on gallbladder attacks and removing the gallbladder to learn more about a healthy gallbladder.

Neal Kennedy is a retired radio and TV reporter with a special interest in health and fitness.

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