The gallbladder, also called the gallbladder, is an organ located below the liver. It plays a role in concentrating and storing bile, sending bile to the duodenum and helping digestion and absorption of lipids. When a problem occurs in the gallbladder, which plays an important role, related diseases such as cholelithiasis and gallbladder polyps occur. Cholecystitis refers to an inflammatory disease caused by secondary bacterial infection as gallstones, tumors, or other functional abnormalities occur in the gallbladder and the gallbladder duct narrows. In addition, cholecystitis can be largely divided into acute cholecystitis and chronic cholecystitis according to the course of its occurrence.
More than 90% of cholecystitis is caused by gallstones in the gallbladder. And acute cholecystitis without gallstones can be caused by trauma, surgery, burns, etc. It is also known to be caused by infections such as tuberculosis, typhoid, and parasites. In addition, diabetes, long-term intake of fatty and high-calorie foods, overeating, excessive diet, fasting, and other factors have been reported to affect the occurrence. Now, let’s take a look at the main symptoms that can appear when cholecystitis occurs, as well as various information about treatment and prevention.
The main symptoms of cholecystitis
If the symptoms of cholecystitis are acute, severe pain in the right upper abdomen occurs and at the same time, biliary colic, which is more painful than colic, occurs. In addition, such pain has the characteristic that it becomes more severe when taking a deep breath or when an external shock is applied. In addition, various symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, nausea, nausea, anorexia, and jaundice are also symptoms that accompany acute cholecystitis. Chronic cholecystitis manifests in various forms, from asymptomatic to non-specific pain, biliary colic, and symptoms such as bloating and abdominal discomfort.
It is known that the symptoms of cholecystitis can be relieved in about 75% of patients with appropriate medical treatment. However, without continuous treatment and management, the recurrence rate is high, and if the symptoms worsen, complications such as perforation, fistula, gangrene formation, hydrocephalus, sinusitis, autogenous gallbladder, and gallstone intestinal obstruction occur. Therefore, it is very important to continuously manage it through appropriate treatment and improvement of lifestyle and eating habits in order to alleviate symptoms and prevent recurrence.
Treatment and prevention of cholecystitis
1. Implementation of various tests and appropriate treatment
For the diagnosis of cholecystitis, various tests such as abdominal ultrasonography to check for gallstones and radioactive isotope scans are performed. Diagnosis and other intra-abdominal lesions such as bile ducts and pancreas are performed. And according to the results of these tests, if there are no symptoms at all and only gallstones in the gallbladder, treatment is not recommended, and if symptoms occur, medical or surgical treatment procedures are performed. Medical treatment includes fasting and fluid therapy, analgesic for pain control, and drug inflammation treatment through broad-spectrum antibiotic administration. With this medical treatment, about 75% of patients show improvement in acute symptoms within 7 days. However, in about 25% of cases, the disease may continue to progress or complications such as perforation and fistula may occur, so surgical treatment can be performed. For surgery, cholecystectomy is performed to remove the gallbladder, and if the inflammation is limited to the gallbladder, surgical treatment such as cholecystectomy using laparoscopy is performed.
2. Steady exercise
Continuing aerobic exercise such as walking, biking, and jogging is also an important management habit in preventing and managing cholecystitis. In particular, when such exercise is performed, it can be said that it plays an important role in preventing obesity, which affects the occurrence of cholecystitis, and helping maintain an appropriate weight.
3. Control your intake of fatty foods
It is important to control and reduce the intake of these foods as it is known that a diet centered on fatty and high-calorie foods is the main cause that affects the occurrence of cholecystitis. Excessive intake of cholesterol is also a cause of cholecystitis, so it is recommended to reduce the intake of meat, egg yolk and butter, and increase the intake of vegetables and fruits at the same time. However, excessive consumption of foods such as corn, cabbage, and beans can cause intestinal gas, so it is recommended to limit intake if symptoms are severe.
Also, excessive dieting to lose weight can cause cholecystitis. In particular, if you continue to eat a diet that severely restricts fat, it can cause cholesterol to clumpy and cause gallstones, which can lead to acute cholecystitis. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid eating too much fat.
