What is Pancreatitis?
The pancreas is a large abdominal gland next to the upper
part of the small intestine. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The
pancreas produces enzymes that aid digestion and also produce hormones that
help control your body's glucose (glucose) process.
Pancreatitis may occur suddenly and may last for a few
days (acute pancreatitis) or it may also persist for many years (chronic
pancreatitis). Mild cases of pancreatitis are cured without treatment, but
severe cases can lead to fatal complications.
Types of Pancreatitis –
1.
Acute Pancreatitis – Acute
pancreatitis causes sudden inflammation of the pancreas. Its severity can range
from mild stomach upset to a serious life-threatening illness. Most patients
suffering from acute pancreatitis recover completely after getting the right
treatment.
2.
Chronic Pancreatitis – Chronic
pancreatitis happens after acute pancreatitis. And is the result of ongoing
inflammation of the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis can also occur due to
long-term drinking or smoking. Its patients may have severe pain and pancreatic
failure.
Symptoms of Pancreatitis –
The main symptom of chronic pancreatitis is sudden and
severe pain around your upper abdomen. This pain often increases rapidly and
can go under or behind your left shoulder. Food or beverages (especially fat
foods), you can feel very perishable.
The pain may be sudden and it may develop slowly. Most
often, this pain begins or aggravates after eating and can also be accompanied
by gallbladder or ulcer pain. Abdominal pain is considered the main symptom of
acute pancreatitis.
People with acute
pancreatitis usually feel very ill.
Following are the symptoms of acute pancreatitis –
1.
Abdominal
pain, which can go towards the back.
2.
Nausea
and Vomiting.
3.
Pain
increases after meals.
4.
Pain
on touching the stomach.
5.
Fever
and colds
6.
Weakness
and lethargy.
The most common
symptom of chronic pancreatitis is frequent abdominal pain. It can also cause
digestive problems –
The pain usually develops in the middle or left side of
the abdomen and can sometimes go to your back. In some cases the pain may last
for several hours or days. Some people also experience symptoms of nausea and
vomiting during pain. As pancreatitis increases, the pain may increase more
quickly.
Other symptoms of
chronic pancreatitis are –
1.
Weight
loss without reason.
2.
Deodorant
and oily stool.
Causes of Pancreatitis –
There are the following causes of acute pancreatitis –
1.
Gallstones.
2.
Excess
consumption of Alcohol
3.
Some
medicines.
4.
Autoimmune
diseases.
5.
Infection.
6.
Trauma
7.
Metabolic
disorders.
8.
70
years of age or older.
9.
Family
history of pancreatitis.
10.
High
levels of calcium in blood.
11.
Thyroid
enlargement (hyperthyroidism).
12.
Infection.
13.
Stomach
injury
14.
Pancreatic
cancer.
The most common cause of chronic pancreatitis is
prolonged alcohol use. People who consume alcohol regularly are at increased
risk of pancreatitis. However, only a few people have this problem. Other
reasons for this are –
1.
Genetic
disorders of the Pancreas.
2.
Cystic
Fibrosis.
3.
High
Triglycerides.
Pancreatitis Prevention –
How to prevent pancreatitis?
1.
Gallbladder removal.
2.
Since alcohol and smoking are risk factors for
pancreatitis, patients should not smoke and do not drink alcohol.
3.
Eating a low-fat diet and maintaining a healthy
weight can reduce the risk of developing gall bladder diseases, which is a
major cause of pancreatitis.
4.
Exercising regularly.
5.
Keep the weight under control.
In most cases, the pain and
nausea of pancreatitis are so severe that one has to consult a doctor. However,
it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately if you experience the following
symptoms –
1.
Inability to take medication due to nausea or
vomiting, inability to drink or eat anything.
2.
Severe pain that is not cured by medicines taken
by the chemist.
3.
Pain without any reason.
4.
Shortness of breath.
5.
Along with pain, fever or chills, persistent
vomiting. Feeling fainting, weakness or tiredness.
6.
Pain with other medical problems including
pregnancy.
If you feel any of these problems, then you should meet a specialist doctor immediately.
The information here is taken from various sources. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy, timeliness and genuineness of this information. However, it does not belong to ovihealth.com. We humbly request you to contact your doctor before trying any remedy. Our aim is just to provide you information.
0 Comments
Post a Comment