How Can You Tell If You Are Experiencing Gallbladder Pain
Most people tend to be unaware of what exactly the gallbladder is, what it does and where is it is located – that is, until it starts giving them problems. When gallbladder pain occurs, it can be extremely frustrating but there is safe, effective gallbladder pain relief available.
How Can You Tell If You Have Gallstones Leading To Gallbladder Pain?
The gallbladder itself is a small, pear shaped organ found just under the lobes of the liver in the upper right area of the abdomen. Its function is to store and release bile; a compound produced by the liver to help digest fat and aid the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals.
When the gallbladder is functionally optimally, the process is painless, however, a sluggish gallbladder or blockage in the bile ducts may cause immense pain and discomfort, as well as poor digestion.
Gallstones are deposits of calcium minerals or cholesterol that vary in size from tiny grains of sand golf ball sized stones. When a gallstone becomes stuck in a duct, gallbladder pain relief becomes a high priority for sufferers.
Identify Symptoms
To identify if you have gallstones, the first step is to understand what the symptoms are.
The most common symptom of gallstones is a sharp and increasing pain in the mid, upper right section of the abdomen. Gallbladder blockages and biliary colic may also lead to pain in between the shoulder blades or in the right shoulder. Depending on the size of the gallstones and the severity of the problem, the pain can range from mild and irregular to very severe and frequent.
Nausea or vomiting after meals may indicate the presence of gallstones, while developing a fever or chills usually signals an infection or rupture and the need to seek medical attention.
Over time, gallbladder problems can also cause changes in bowel habits. Episodes of frequent diarrhoea can signal chronic gallbladder disease. If stools are light-coloured or chalky in appearance, this may also indicate a disfunction of bile flow called cholestasis. Other signs of this condition include dark urine, yellow-toned skin and skin itching.
Typically, this would occur a while after the onset of gallbladder pain due to a prolonged problem with the liver, or a blockage in the bile ducts caused by a gallstone.
If you experience severe symptoms it is recommended that you seek medical attention, however, gallbladder pain relief for mild issues can often be found through safe, natural supplements and healthy lifestyle changes.
To promote liver health and boost digestive function, it is recommended to consume high-fiber foods, such as beans, peas, fruits, whole grains, and vegetables on a regular basis. It is also important to reduce the intake of refined sugars, carbohydrates and unhealthy fats. Replacing these with healthy fats such as those found in olive oil, fish oil and coconut oil is highly beneficial for digestive health.
Following a healthy and balanced diet, along with reducing gallstone risk factors offers relief of gallbladder pain and gallstone formation.
