What is cholecystitis?

Acute cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is an organ that sits below your liver and helps your body digest fat.

Cholecystitis can become very severe and in most cases requires immediate medical attention. See your doctor as soon as possible if you think you have acute cholecystitis.

This condition can become chronic if it persists for a prolonged period of time, or if you’re having recurring symptoms from the inflammation.

Gallstones are by far the most common cause of acute cholecystitis. Bile can build up in the gallbladder if gallstones obstruct the bile ducts. This leads to inflammation.

Learn more: Gallstones »

急性胆囊炎也可以引起的严重illness or a tumor. However, these causes are rare.

The condition is considered chronic when attacks of cholecystitis are repeated or prolonged.

Women get gallstones more often than men. They also have a higher risk of developing acute cholecystitis.

Risk increases with age in both men and women, although the reason for this is unclear. The risk is also higher for people of Scandinavian, Native American, or Hispanic descent.

The most common sign that you have acute cholecystitis isabdominal painthat lasts for several hours. This pain is usually in the middle or right side of your upper abdomen. It may also spread to your right shoulder or back.

Pain from acute cholecystitis can feel like sharp pain or dull cramps. It’s often described as excruciating.

Other symptoms include:

The symptoms of acute cholecystitis can resemble many other illnesses. Your doctor will want to know about your medical history as well as your symptoms. They’ll probably check your abdomen for swelling or tender areas. They may order additional tests, such as the following:

  • Abdominalultrasoundsuse sound waves to create an image of your organs. This is the most commonly ordered imaging test that’s used to diagnose cholecystitis.
  • Hepatobiliary scintigraphy is a procedure that creates an image of the upper portion of your small intestine, liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts.
  • Cholangiography uses dye injected into your bile ducts to show the gallbladder and bile ducts on an X-ray.
  • CT scansare computerized images used to create images of your internal organs.

Your doctor may need to run more tests if you’ve been diagnosed with acute cholecystitis. These tests may include aliver function testand acomplete blood count (CBC) test.

Severe abdominal pain may need immediate treatment. You should always see your doctor if you begin to have severe, unexplained abdominal pain.

Your doctor may recommend hospitalization so that you can be monitored. You may be asked to fast, because your gallbladder is part of your digestive system, and fasting allows the gallbladder to rest. You may get intravenous (IV) fluids to prevent dehydration. Your doctor will most likely prescribe pain medications and antibiotics to minimize your abdominal pain and fight infection.

Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove your gallbladder if the cholecystitis keeps recurring. This is called a cholecystectomy, which can be donelaparoscopicallyor throughopen surgery.

You can still digest food normally without a gallbladder. Bile that normally flowed to your gallbladder will be redirected into your small intestine.

You may be able to reduce your risk of developing acute or chronic cholecystitis by losing weight and eating a healthier diet. It’s believed that cholesterol plays a part in the formation of gallstones. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and cholesterol.

Read more: Natural remedies for high cholesterol »

Being overweight increases the amount of cholesterol in your bile. This raises your chances of developing gallstones. If you choose to lose weight to reduce the risk of gallstones, it’s best to do so gradually. Rapid weight loss may upset the delicate bile chemistry in your body. This can increase your chances of developing gallstones.

Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about your weight. They’ll help you come up with an effective weight loss plan.