What Causes Gallbladder Attacks?

According to the University of California Medical Center in San Diego, there are approximately 25 million people in America that have some form of gallbladder disease, and at least 1 million new cases are diagnosed every year. In most cases, gallstones are the culprit, with 1 out of every 2 cases requiring surgery, many of which could have been avoided by simply eating healthier and cutting down on the intake of saturated fats.

What Is the Gallbladder's Function?

• The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped sac that rests directly below the liver inside your abdomen. According to medlineplus.com, the gallbladder works with the liver, collecting bile as you eat. Later, the gallbladder releases its contents into the bile duct via the cystic duct and into the duodenum (small intestine) for elimination.

The Cystic Duct

• The process of bile elimination through the gallbladder is usually quite fluid. But, sometimes malfunctions do occur. For instance, if the cystic duct becomes blocked, it can cause painful gallbladder inflammation. Merck.com describes this occurrence as "cholecystitis," which can also cause nausea and vomiting. The blockage is often referred to as a gallstone, which usually will require surgical removal.

How Does a Gallstone Form?

• According to the Center for Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases, there are two variations of gallstones. The first type is referred to as a "pigment stone," which can be black or brown in color, and is made up of calcified bilirubin (old red blood cells). The second type of gallstone is a "cholesterol stone," which is caused by the liver's secretion of excessive amounts of cholesterol into the bile. It is possible for a patient to have a mixture of both types in the gallbladder.

Gallbladder Disease

• Acalculous gallbladder disease is referred to as a gallbladder disease "without stones." The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that there are two forms of acalculous gallbladder disease--acute and chronic. The acute form of the disease usually affects patients with preexisting illness that compromises the gallbladder. Chronic acalculous gallbladder disease is muscle related, causing the muscles of the gallbladder to function improperly. Although there are no gallstone blockages, in both forms of the disease, gallstone-type symptoms still occur.

Symptoms of a Gallbladder Attack

• Classic symptoms of a gallbladder attack often include severe, upper abdominal pain. The pain can become intense, lasting for several hours, sometimes radiating into the back and shoulder blades. According to mayoclinic.com, chronic indigestion is also a symptom of a gallbladder attack, causing gas and bloating. A fever can also occur, along with nausea and vomiting.