Pancreas (Pancreatitis)
Pancreas (Pancreatitis) Doctor in Rewa (MP)
What is the Pancreas (Pancreatitis)?
What Are the Types of Pancreatitis?
The two forms of pancreatitis are acute and chronic.
In pancreatitis, the pancreas becomes inflamed and damaged by its own digestive chemicals. Swelling and death of tissue of the pancreas can result.
- Acute pancreatitis is sudden inflammation that lasts a short time. It can range from mild discomfort to a severe, life-threatening illness. Most people who have it recover completely after getting the right treatment. In severe cases, acute pancreatitis can cause bleeding, serious tissue damage, infection, and cysts. Severe pancreatitis can also harm other vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.
- Chronic pancreatitis is long-lasting inflammation. It most often happens after an episode of acute pancreatitis. Another top cause is drinking lots of alcohol for a long period of time. Damage to your pancreas from heavy alcohol use may not cause symptoms for many years, but then you may suddenly have severe pancreatitis symptoms.
What Are the Types of Pancreatitis?
Symptoms of acute pancreatitis:
- Fever
- Higher heart rate
- Pain in the upper part of your belly
- Nausea and vomiting
- welling and tenderness in the belly
Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis:
- Constant pain in your upper belly that radiates to your back. This pain may be disabling.
- Diarrhea and weight loss because your pancreas isn’t releasing enough enzymes to break down food
- Upset stomach and vomiting
- Fatty, oily stools that smell especially bad and leave a film in the toilet
- welling and tenderness in the belly
Pancreatitis Causes
Acute pancreatitis causes include:
- Drinking lots of alcohol
- Gallstones
- Autoimmune diseases
- Infections
- Medications
- Metabolic disorders
- Surgery
- Trauma to the belly area
In up to 15% of people with this type, the cause is unknown.
Chronic pancreatitis causes include:
- Cystic fibrosis
- Family history of pancreas disorders
- Gallstones
- High triglycerides
- Longtime alcohol use
- Medications
In about 20% to 30% of cases, the cause of chronic pancreatitis is unknown. People with this type are usually men between ages 30 and 40. African American people are more likely to have pancreatitis than other racial groups in the U.S.
Pancreatitis Risk Factors
Several things can cause you to have a greater chance of having this condition, including:
- Heavy drinking (four or more alcoholic drinks per day)
- Smoking and vaping
- Obesity (having a BMI of 30 or higher), especially if your weight is mostly around your belly
- Diabetes
- High levels of triglycerides
- Having a family history of pancreatitis
How Do You Prevent Pancreatitis?
Because many cases of pancreatitis are caused by alcohol abuse, prevention often focuses on limiting how much you drink or not drinking at all. If your drinking is a concern, talk to your doctor or health care professional about an alcohol treatment center. A support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous could also help.
Other things you can do to reduce your chances of having the condition include stopping smoking, following your doctor’s and dietitian’s advice about your diet, and taking any medications your doctor prescribes.
How can we help you?
Contact us at the Gastro World & Liver Centre Rewa (MP) Or make an appointment online.