What is Gallbladder Attack? Symptoms, Treatment & Causes

Gallbladder stones are not usually concerning until they start causing symptoms. However, most people with gallstones have no symptoms. Those who happen to have found gallstone on a CT scan or ultrasound, but do not show any symptoms might have something which is called silent gallstone. People with silent gallstones may not need immediate treatment. But if you’ve been diagnosed with gallstone, you could be susceptible to a gallbladder attack. 

Gallbladder attacks can be extremely painful and can last up to many hours and even land you up in a hospital. And sometimes evaluation is also required to rule out other serious conditions like appendicitis and heart attacks as they have similar symptoms. Also, at certain times gallstones do not pass on their own leading to other complications like pancreas inflammation or gallbladder infection. So being aware of the gallbladder attack symptoms and when to seek gallstones treatment surgery in Delhi can help you avoid further complications and get properly treated for your condition. But first let’s understand what a gallbladder attack is and how it affects your health.

What is a Gallbladder Attack?

Gallbladder attacks usually occur in the evening or at night following a very heavy meal. A gallbladder attack happens when a gallstone blocks the bile duct causing the gallbladder to spasm. It is also known as biliary colic. The blockage in the bile duct often leads to a very sharp pain felt in the upper right or center of the abdomen, which you can mistake for being a heart attack. 

One gallbladder attack can be followed by others, so it is necessary to seek treatment early at the best gallbladder stone hospital in Delhi. So let us get acquainted with the symptoms of a gallbladder attack to prevent complications like gallbladder infections and pancreas inflammation. 

Symptoms of Gallbladder Attack & Is Gallstone Treatment Surgery Required?

Some of the serious and most common symptoms of a gallbladder attack that should make you seek treatment right away are:

• Pain in the upper right or center of the abdomen that lasts for several hours
• Abdominal pain after having a heavy meal
• Back pain particularly between shoulder blades
• Vomiting and nausea
• Fever or chills
• Brown or tea-coloured urine
• Light colored stool
• Yellowing of whites of eyes and skin

These gallbladder attack symptoms can be similar to other conditions like gastroesophageal reflux and ulcers, also appendicitis and pancreatitis as talked about previously. If these conditions are left untreated they can lead to more serious complications, so they should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. 

A gallbladder attack can last up to several hours and only subsides when the gallbladder stone has passed. There is no way the gallbladder attack can be stopped until the gallstone has passed. Although, sometimes gallstones do not pass on their own leading to serious complications like gallbladder cancer. 

Therefore, immediate diagnosis and gallstone treatment surgery is necessary if you’ve been having repeated gallbladder attacks.

What Causes Gallstones And How to Prevent it?

The cause of gallstones is not entirely known, however some of the following causes might be behind the formation of gallstones.

• If the gallbladder fails to empty its bile content completely, it can lead to formation of stones. For a gallbladder to perform its function fully, it needs to be able to empty out its bile content. 
• Having more cholesterol than what your bile can dissolve could lead to the formation of hard cholesterol stones. This happens when the liver makes too much cholesterol and the bile is not able to dissolve it properly.
• Formation of pigment gallstones is caused when there is excess of bilirubin. Excess bilirubin in the bile is caused due to other conditions like liver damage and certain blood disorders. 

How to Prevent Gallbladder Attacks?

It is a must get in touch with your healthcare provider to keep your health in check and get to know if you need a gallstone treatment surgery in Delhi. There is no proven way yet to prevent the formation of gallstones, however, if you suspect of having symptoms, here are a few ways in which you can prevent the formation of gallstones and also reduce the frequency of gallbladder attacks.

• Exercise regularly
• Maintain a normal BMI
• Avoid fatty foods
• Try to eat a well-balanced diet having lean meat, fish, poultry and low-fat dairy products
• Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet
• Prepare meals with whole grains
• Stay well-hydrated
• Avoid fried and greasy junk foods

Conclusion

Now that you know the symptoms of a gallbladder attack and how serious it can get, it is important you keep your symptoms in check and make sure you inform your doctor about them as soon as possible. Early diagnosis is the best way to deal with gallstones as it can be painful when they have grown in size. For more information about how to treat gallbladder stones hospital in Delhi, check out MASSH. We specialise in minimally invasive and non-invasive surgical procedures that can help you treat gallstones with minimal recovery period and risks. Check out our website or visit us today to learn more about our gallstone treatment options.