How to Prevent Gallbladder Attacks

Certain chemicals such as bilirubin and cholesterol in bile can come together to form solid masses called gallstones. Gallbladder attacks occur when gallstones block bile tracts in your gallbladder, which can lead to infection, inflammation and other serious complications. A particularly common symptom of a gallbladder attack is a steady pain in your upper right abdomen, although more serious cases can also come with fever and severe nausea. You can prevent gallstones by eating right, exercising to maintain a healthy weight and seeing a doctor for regular check-ups. Surgery to remove your gallbladder is also an option for more serious cases.

Eating Habits

• According to the Mayo Clinic, your eating habits play a major role in determining your chances of developing gallstones and suffering gallbladder attacks. High-fat foods increase your risk because eating them increases the cholesterol content in your gallbladder. Eating lots of fiber can help reduce the level of cholesterol in your bile. Similarly, fasting is a risk factor because it causes an increase in both bilirubin and cholesterol. Overall, you should try to eat regular meals with lots of fruits and vegetables plus foods containing unsaturated fats such as fish and nuts to reduce your risk for gallbladder attacks.

Weight

• Being overweight is a risk factor for developing gallstones. It can also cause conditions such as diabetes that further increase the risk. If you are overweight, you'll need to reduce your weight to reduce your risk. However, losing too much weight too fast is another risk factor because faster metabolizing of fat raises the cholesterol content in your gallbladder. Try to aim for a maximum weight loss of 2 pounds per week.

Medication

• If you are unable to address risk factors for gallstones through normal means, you might be able to get medication to help combat those factors. For example, if you have high cholesterol, you can take statins to reduce your cholesterol level. Be warned that some cholesterol-lowering drugs can increase your risk for forming gallstones because they lower the cholesterol level in your blood but raise it in your bile. Similarly, you can also take nutrient supplements such as vitamins C and E if your diet lacks the right nutrients.

Getting Medical Treatment

• Visiting your doctor for regular check-ups is a good way to catch any potential issues with your gallbladder and get help addressing them before they can turn into complications. If you are unable to address the issues, you can get a surgical procedure to have your gallbladder removed. Most gallbladder removals are laparoscopic, meaning that the procedure is performed through a small incision in the abdomen using a scope and other instruments. Although you may experience minor digestive problems from eating too much fat after your gallbladder is removed, most people experience no other symptoms. Alternatively, your doctor can also prescribe oral medications to help dissolve the gallstones in your gallbladder if you are unable to undergo the surgery.