Is right upper quadrant pain a sign of gallbladder problem?

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Right lower quadrant pain is a common pain that is easily overlooked. One of the organs adjacent to the right hypochondrium that is injured and signaled by pain is the gallbladder. Depending on the problem of the gallbladder, the pain will be characterized by varying intensity and accompanying symptoms.

1. Is right upper quadrant pain a sign of gallbladder problem?

The right lower quadrant, also known as the right flank, is located on the right side of the abdomen, just below the ribs. Right lower quadrant pain is often characterized by dull, sharp pain, making the patient feel uncomfortable and affecting all daily activities.
One of the organs adjacent to the right hypochondrium that is injured and signaled by pain is the gallbladder. Depending on the gallbladder disease, the pain will have different characteristics, with different intensity and accompanying symptoms. Some common problems in the gallbladder that can cause right upper quadrant pain are:
Gallstones: Right upper quadrant pain due to gallstones is characterized by sudden onset, especially when eating a full meal, eating a lot of food. fat, grease. The pain is usually dull, intermittent (>30 minutes) or intense. The pain may radiate from the right lower quadrant to the right shoulder and back. The pain is also a sign that gallstones have progressed causing stagnation of bile, thus leading to complications of cholecystitis, even biliary peritonitis, septic shock of the biliary tract, and necrosis of the biliary tract. Before the right upper quadrant pain appears about 5-7 days, the patient often has symptoms that are easily confused with digestive diseases such as indigestion, flatulence, abdominal distension, anorexia, weight loss, yellowing. skin, yellow eyes, dark urine and light-colored stools. Cholecystitis: Often, cholecystitis is a complication of untreated gallstones. Acute cholecystitis is characterized by a gradual increase in severity over a long period of time, especially becoming more severe and uncomfortable with walking or coughing. Meanwhile, right upper quadrant pain due to chronic cholecystitis often occurs after eating. When the gallbladder is inflamed, in addition to right lower quadrant pain, the patient also has a high fever and constantly feels nauseous and vomiting. If there are signs of jaundice, it means the condition is dangerous and then the patient needs to be treated immediately. Cholangitis: Cholangitis causes right upper quadrant pain at the onset of the disease, in addition, it may be accompanied by other symptoms such as chills, fever, jaundice, yellow eyes, itching. Gallbladder polyps: Like gallstones, when gallbladder polyps increase in number and size, bile ducts can become blocked and cause right upper quadrant pain accompanied by dyspepsia, bloating, and distention. stomach, especially after eating full, eating foods high in fat, greasy.

2. Some other diseases to be aware of when having right abdominal pain

Not only the gallbladder, the internal organs around the right abdomen also have the liver, kidneys, lungs... Therefore, it is also important to note some other diseases when seeing right abdominal pain:
Problems About the liver: Viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver, bile duct stones in the hepatic duct, liver abscess, ... is a liver disease that causes pain in the right flank. In addition, accompanied by other symptoms such as chills, high fever, bloating, bleeding gums, ... The most dangerous is liver cancer, then, the patient also feels tired, anorexia, weight loss. End stage liver cancer will cause the patient constant pain, unable to eat or rest. Lung problems: Right-sided abdominal pain can also be a sign of lung damage, such as pneumonia or pleurisy. Unlike the liver or gallbladder, lung diseases are often accompanied by symptoms such as cough, persistent cough. Intestinal problems: In addition to the gallbladder, liver and lungs, right-sided abdominal pain is also a common manifestation of intestinal damage, such as intestinal disorders, intestinal infections, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis. , appendicitis, irritable bowel syndrome. The pain usually begins in the lower abdomen and then spreads to the lower abdomen, which may be accompanied by other symptoms such as diarrhea (caused by an infection). Kidney problems: Nephritis, urinary tract infections, kidney infections, kidney stones, etc. are common kidney problems that cause right upper quadrant pain. The pain usually begins in the back, then spreads to the lower ribs and lower body. Other problems: In addition to the internal problems mentioned above, persistent right upper quadrant pain can also be caused by intercostal neuralgia or depression. However, these are not typical symptoms of these diseases and only some people experience them.

3. What to do when right lower quadrant pain?

When experiencing unusual right-sided abdominal pain, the patient can temporarily do the following to relieve the pain:
Warm the painful area for about 20-30 minutes. Avoid work, overwork or wrong posture. Lie on your side at rest, bend and bend so that your knees are brought to your chest to relieve pain. You can drink a little juice or fresh turmeric, but absolutely do not take pain relievers on your own. Right lower quadrant pain is a symptom of many different diseases, including gallbladder disease. In addition to right abdominal pain, if accompanied by other symptoms such as high fever, chills, jaundice, flatulence, dyspepsia, loss of appetite, weight loss, ... the patient should quickly see a doctor for diagnosis. timely diagnosis and treatment.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is a prestigious address trusted by many patients in performing diagnostic techniques for digestive diseases, diseases that cause chronic diarrhea or Crohn's disease... Especially In particular, the screening techniques for gastric cancer and gastric polyps at Vinmec were performed using the Olympus CV 190 endoscope, the NBI function (Narrow Banding Imaging - endoscopy with narrow light frequency band) for image results. analyze mucosal pathology more clearly... Thanks to that, the doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and give a timely treatment plan. Not only has a modern equipment system, Vinmec is also a place to gather a team of experienced doctors and nurses, especially, with a space designed according to hotel standards, Vinmec is guaranteed to bring to the customers Patient comfort, friendliness, peace of mind.

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