Doctors may not be surprised when patients arrive at the ER during the holiday season complaining of chest pain, pain specific to the upper right side of the abdomen, or even pain that extends to their back and shoulders.
If suspicions are correct, this is known as a gallbladder attack – and the number of reported cases tends to rise every year around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Often, this is due to the overindulging that seems to be typical of holiday festivities. Rich, fatty foods – the ones that many of us look forward to year-round – can aggravate existing gallbladder issues.
“Your gallbladder stores bile that’s produces by your liver. When you eat, the gallbladder empties the bile into the bowel where it helps to digest any fat in the meal you’ve eaten. The more fat you eat, the harder the gallbladder works and the greater the likelihood you’ll have an attack if you have gallstones. Some patients can have gallstones and not even know it, but if you have them and eat a lot of rich, fatty foods, you’ll find out about them very quickly, and in a way that’s not very festive.
If you have gallstones or suffer from frequent right upper abdominal pain, you should talk to your doctor about what can be done to help. It’s not fun to hear, but more celery and less friend wings is the best way to keep gallbladder pain away this holiday season.”
Keith Zuccala, MD, FACS, General Surgeon, Trinity Medical General and Bariatric Surgery
The Link Between Holiday Food and Gallbladder Symptoms
Your gallbladder is a sac that stores the bile made by the liver. Gallstones can form and cause uncomfortable symptoms when they block that bile from exiting the liver. In addition to the abdominal pain already mentioned, fever, nausea, or vomiting can also accompany a gallbladder attack.
Gallstones themselves are asymptomatic – symptoms occur when gallstones cause a blockage. Fatty foods can cause the gallbladder to contract more in an effort to release bile.
As you may have guessed, homemade holiday treats tend to be fattier than the food we might consume in our everyday routine. A lot of the time, holiday food is made richer with added butter or cream.
How to Limit Gallbladder Symptoms This Holiday Season
Looking to keep gallbladder symptoms at bay? Try the following this year when you’re celebrating the holidays:
- Practice portion-control with rich foods
- Avoid store-bought starches, like white bread and sweet treats
- Pass on alcoholic or sugary beverages
If you suspect you may be experiencing symptoms of a gallbladder attack, it’s very important not to ignore the problem and seek medical attention. Contact your physician or someone from our general surgery team right away to determine the best treatment for your condition. In the event that you are experiencing extreme pain and discomfort, head to the emergency room.
Schedule a Visit with Dr. Zuccala
Dr. Keith Zuccala is a board-certified surgeon who specializes in bariatrics. Dr. Zuccala sees patients at 2625 Harlem Rd in Cheektowaga To schedule an appointment with Dr. Zuccala, call (716) 893-0333.
