## What is the cause? Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the [gallbladder](https://ul.orna.me/KOge/librarydisease?id=76). It comes without stones (non-calculous) and with stones (calculous). In most cases, the disease occurs because gallstones block the duct, resulting in stagnation and violation of the outflow of bile. This is most often caused by genetic predisposition, metabolic disorders, hypodynamia of the gallbladder, bacterial infection in the bile duct system, and excess cholesterol in the gallbladder (usually occurs in pregnant women or people who lose weight very quickly). > There are other, rarer causes as well – for example, food allergies, parasites, and impaired bile outflow during pregnancy due to increased uterine size. Lifestyle also plays an important role, as poor diet, lack of physical activity, chronic stress, rigid diets, and alcohol abuse can contribute to the disease. ## When is it time to see a doctor? Symptoms of cholecystitis most often occur after eating fatty foods. The following can be symptoms===: - Severe, sudden pain in the upper right side of the abdomen - Pain that increases with deep breathing, spreading to the back or under the right shoulder blade - Upset stomach, especially after eating fatty foods or dairy products - Abdominal cramping and bloating after eating - Reflux or heartburn You may also experience: fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, itching, increased irritability, excessive sweating, rapid intoxication when drinking alcohol, bad breath, plaque on the tongue, and fatigue after eating. ## What is the course of treatment? There are two ways to solve the problem - medication and surgery. Generally, non-calculous cholecystitis is treated with drugs, physical therapy, and a special diet. Calculous cholecystitis is treated through surgical intervention. If the gallbladder is not removed, there is a high risk of developing chronic cholecystitis and life-threatening complications. Of course, in each case, the decision on the method of treatment is made by the doctor, based on the individual characteristics and the health of the patient. > Surgery to remove the gallbladder is usually performed laparoscopically. ## What should people with cholecystitis eat? In the process of treatment, it is very important to eat properly, as medications alone will not solve the problem. The main recommendations include: - Eat 5-6 times a day – the gallbladder secretes bile during meals so if you skip lunch or dinner, bile juices accumulate. - Avoid fried, fatty, spicy, sour, pickled, salted, and smoked food, as these products cause inflammation of the mucosa of the digestive organs. - Avoid foods that provoke gas formation such as legumes, cabbage, carbonated drinks, whole grain products, onions, garlic, sugar substitutes, etc. - Include lean proteins in your diet such as poultry without skin, fish, and seafood. - Try to eat warm foods, as cold and hot foods cause gallbladder spasms. - Drink more water. > Be careful of restrictive diets! Even if you really need to lose weight, try to do it very gradually. Rapid weight loss increases the risk of gallstones.