Gallbladder Attacks and Gallstones

Causes Of Gallbladder Problems

What causes gallbladder problems?

Gallbladder attacks A gallbladder attack is caused by gallbladder inflammation, which causes severe pain in the upper right side of the chest. Back pain between the shoulder blades may also be one of the signs and symptoms of this gallbladder problem.

Any gallbladder problem that causes the gallbladder to empty inadequately or inefficiently can lead to a gallbladder attack. A gallbladder attack can also occur when too much bile accumulates in the gallbladder and it becomes swollen and inflamed. This is known as cholecystitis. Eating fatty foods such as chocolate, cheese or pastry sometimes causes this gallbladder problem.

Gallstones These are another one of the causes of gallbladder problems. Gallstones are small, hard substances that look like pebbles. They form when bile stored in the gallbladder hardens because there's too much cholesterol present. Other factors may include excess bilirubin, or not enough bile salts, and when the gallbladder does not empty completely or often enough. The reason these imbalances occur is not known.

Gallstones cause pain and inflammation as they work their way through the biliary duct toward the small intestine.

The medical name for gallstones is cholelithiasis. Gallstones are found in approximately 80% of patients with gallbladder cancer.

Signs and symptoms of gallbladder problems Gallbladder problems may cause severe pain in the upper right abdomen or chest, just below the ribs. Other signs and symptoms of gallbladder problems include fever, nausea, and vomiting. Someone with a gallbladder dysfunction may also experience chills, shaking, heartburn, a yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes, and clay-colored stools.

Who's at risk for gallbladder problems? The following groups are most likely to experience gallbladder problems:

• pregnant women
• women who have undergone hormone replacement therapy, or take birth control pills
• anyone over age 60
• anyone who is very overweight or obese
• people who are trying to lose weight fast, especially through crash diets
• people with a family history of gallstones
• diabetics
• people who take cholesterol medications
• anyone with liver cirrhosis
• anyone undergoing long-term intravenous nutrition
• someone who has had surgery for peptic ulcers

Prolonged pain (more than 5 hours) in the upper right abdomen or chest area may be a clue that some kind of gallbladder problem is underway. Pain may also spread to the back. Such pain typically follows a large fatty meal because once again, too much cholesterol and bile are among the primary causes of gallbladder problems.

Anyone with gallbladder pain or the signs and symptoms of gallbladder problems mentioned above should seek medical attention immediately.