Disease warning: Pancreatitis patients are in danger zone
Pancreas is a vital
organ in human body which has important function in digestion and hormone
production. The pancreas, located behind the stomach in the upper abdomen
releases enzymes and hormones. The enzymes are discharged through the
pancreatic duct into the intestine, where they help to digest food that has
passed through the stomach. The hormones produced by the pancreas, including
insulin and glucagon, are discharged into the blood and help control blood
sugar levels. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. Pancreatitis is
a severe ailment and it is deadly.
Persons suffer from pancreatitis
when there is inflammation in pancreas. It can be fatal. This disease can be
caused by certain type 2 diabetes medicines. Pancreatitis affects the pancreas,
the organ responsible for excreting digestive juices and insulin to control
blood sugar are severely damaged. It can also result in pancreatic cancer. In
simple term, the function of pancreas is to help digestion by secreting
enzymes. Pancreatitis occurs when these enzymes start processing the pancreatic
tissues instead of traveling to the small intestine to digest food.
Types of pancreatitis:
Acute: Acute
pancreatitis happens unexpectedly, and if treatment is given in time, usually
resolves within a few days.
Chronic: Chronic
pancreatitis does not heal or improve. This type of pancreatitis usually gets
worse over time and causes permanent damage.
Both are serious and
both can be deadly.
Reasons for gripping in pancreatitis:
The most common and
visible reason for pancreatitis is the formation of gallstones that cause
inflammation as they pass through the bile duct.
Causes of acute pancreatitis
include:
Frequent, heavy
alcohol use abdominal trauma,
Tumors, Infections, Genetic abnormalities and certain medications.
Chronic pancreatitis
occurs due to hereditary disorders, high levels of calcium in the blood
(hypercalcemia), high levels of fat in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia), some medications, Cystic fibrosis and
autoimmune disorders.
Common symptoms of pancreatitis:
Ø Severe abdominal pain
Ø Vomiting
Ø Nausea.
Risk factors for pancreatitis:
Ø
Alcohol
abuse
Ø
Gallstones
Ø
Abdominal
trauma
Ø
Major
surgery
Ø
Inherited
diseases affecting the pancreas, including cystic fibrosis
Ø
High
blood levels of calcium (usually due to other medical problems)
Ø
High
blood levels of triglycerides (a particular type of fat in the blood)
Diagnosis of pancreatitis:
Diagnosis is done by
following way:
-
Abdominal
ultrasound. This technology uses sound waves that bounce off the pancreas and
create a picture on a video monitor. It can also detect gallstones that may be
causing inflammation.
-
Endoscopic
ultrasound (EUS). In this test, a doctor passes a thin, flexible tube down the
throat, into the stomach and into the small intestine to check the pancreas and
bile ducts.
-
Computerized
tomography (CT). This is a non-invasive test similar to an X-ray that shows gallstones
and may detect damage to the pancreas.
-
Abdominal
X rays. Using X-rays, doctors can check for any damage to the pancreas.
Additionally, blood
tests are done to check for elevated levels of digestive enzymes in the blood.
Complications of pancreatitis:
Pancreatitis can
cause serious complications, including:
Pseudocyst: In acute
pancreatitis, there is fluid and debris collect in cyst-like pockets in pancreas.
A large pseudocyst that ruptures can cause problems like internal bleeding and
infection.
Infection: Acute
pancreatitis can make pancreas susceptible to bacteria and infection.
Pancreatic infections are severe and require intensive treatment, such as
surgery to remove the infected tissue.
Breathing problems:
Acute pancreatitis can lead to chemical changes in human body that affect lung
function, causing the level of oxygen in blood to fall to extremely low levels.
Diabetes: When there
is a damage to insulin-producing cells in pancreas due to chronic pancreatitis,
it can lead to diabetes.
Kidney failure: Acute
pancreatitis may lead to kidney failure, which can be treated with dialysis if
the kidney failure is severe and persistent.
Malnutrition: Both
acute and chronic pancreatitis can cause pancreas to produce fewer of the
enzymes that are required to break down and process nutrients from the food persons
eat. This can result in malnutrition, diarrhea and weight loss.
Pancreatic cancer: Long-lasting
inflammation in pancreas caused by chronic pancreatitis may develop pancreatic
cancer.
When to seek medical advice:
Patients must know
that when they have to visit doctors. It is advised to patients of pancreas
problem that they seek immediate medical help if experiencing unbearable
abdominal pain that they have difficulty to sit still or find a position that
makes them more comfortable.
First step is to
contact physician if they experience abdominal pain. If doctor suspects that
person may have pancreatitis, he/she may refer to gastroenterologist who has specialization
in the digestive system.
Treatment techniques for pancreatitis:
For acute
pancreatitis, patients must be attended by gastroenterologist and involves
staying at the hospital for a few days. Fluids are administered intravenously
(IV), along with antibiotics and pain relievers.
During retrieval, no
eating or drinking is allowed, in order to reduce strain on the pancreas and
allow it to heal. In critical cases, gastroenterologist may insert a feeding
tube to deliver liquid nutrition to the stomach. Gastroenterologist strictly
prohibited smoking, eating fatty foods or drinking alcoholic beverages in order
to prevent the reappearance of pancreatitis.
Patients with chronic
pancreatitis may require synthetic enzymes to help digest the food, since in
many cases the pancreas no longer secretes enzymes. They also require constant
care to manage the slow damage to the pancreas and lessen symptoms.
Endoscopic therapy is
other treatment option. This is geared towards treating strictures or duct
obstruction which may be causing pain. This therapy involves dilating and/or
stenting a stricture in the pancreatic or biliary duct. Endoscopic therapy can
also remove stones that may be causing obstruction. However, repeated
endoscopic therapy is often required in most patients. Nerve blocks are also
performed to manage the pain associated with chronic pancreatitis. This is
either done endoscopically (through the stomach) or percutaneously (through the
skin).
Home remedies and changes in lifestyle:
Patients must follow
few steps to recover from pancreatitis. These are mentioned below:
-
Patients
of pancreatitis are not allowed to drink alcohol.
-
It
is good to quit smoking. Medications and counselling can help patients to stop
smoking.
-
Patients
must make dietary changes in life such as they must choose a low-fat diet. They
should select a diet that limits fat and include fresh fruits and vegetables,
whole grains, and lean protein.
-
They
are recommended to drink more fluids. Pancreatitis can cause dehydration, so
drink more fluids throughout the day.
Dietary suggestion for patients suffered from
pancreatitis:
It is well understood
that pancreas help in digestion. The pancreas releases insulin, which decreases
blood sugar levels and allows body to store food energy for future use.
Therefore person must take healthy food to heal and nourish pancreas.
There are some foods
mentioned below that avoid pancreatitis.
Blueberries and
Cherries are rich sources of antioxidants, which help prevent cell damage.
Broccoli and other
cruciferous vegetables like Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower contain potent
chemicals which may help prevent cancer.
Garlic along with its
other allium relative, onions, is rich source of nutrients to nourish pancreas
and for the prevention of cancer.
Red grapes are a good
source of resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant. Avoid red wine if you have
pancreatitis, and eat a handful of red grapes instead.
Spinach is also a
vegetable helpful for healthy pancreases. It is a good source of iron and
vitamin B, both of which your pancreas needs. Other leafy greens, like kale,
mustard and Swiss chard are also beneficial for pancreas.
Sweet Potatoes along
with other orange and yellow vegetables like carrots, corn and squash contain
nutrients are advantageous for the pancreas and may help avert cancer.
Tofu is rich source
of low-fat protein. People need protein for healing, but too much fat will worsen
any pancreas problems.
Tomatoes are a good
source of vitamin C and antioxidants. Vegetables also contain antioxidants and
beneficial nutrients, and soup provides additional fluid.
Yogurt with active cultures
have high quantity of probiotics, beneficial bacteria which boost the immune
and digestive system.
In briefing note,
Pancreatitis is a disease in which the pancreas becomes inflamed. Pancreatic
damage happens when the digestive enzymes are activated before they are
released into the small intestine and begin attacking the pancreas.
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