Pancreatitis – What is it, Causes and Treatments!
Pancreatitis – What it is, Causes and Treatments that we should not ignore. In addition, pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a long, flat gland that sits under the stomach in the upper part of the abdomen. The pancreas produces enzymes that help digestion and hormones that help regulate how your body processes sugar (glucose). It can occur as acute – meaning it comes on suddenly and lasts for days.
The disease can occur as chronic, which is one that occurs over many years. Mild cases of pancreatitis can go away without treatment, but severe cases can cause life-threatening complications.
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Main Causes: Pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes are activated while they are still in the pancreas , irritating the cells of the pancreas and causing inflammation. With repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis , damage to the pancreas can occur and lead tochronic pancreatitis . Scar tissue can form in the pancreas , causing loss of function. A poorly functioning pancreas can cause digestion problems and diabetes.
Conditions that can lead to pancreatitis include:
- Alcoholism:
- Gallstones:
- Abdominal surgery :
- Certain medications:
- Cigarette smoking:
- Cystic fibrosis:
- Family history of:
Main Symptoms: Signs and symptoms may vary depending on which type you experience.
Signs and symptoms of acute pancreatitis include:
- Upper abdominal pain :
- Abdominal pain that radiates to the back:
- Abdominal pain that feels worse after eating:
- Fever:
- fast pulse:
- Nausea:
- Vomiting:
- Tenderness when touching the abdomen:
Treatment: Initial hospital treatments may include:
Fasting: You will stop eating for a couple of days in the hospital to give your pancreas a chance to recover. Once the inflammation in your pancreas is controlled, you can start drinking clean fluids and eating bland foods.
Over time, you can return to your normal diet. If your pancreatitis persists and you still have pain when eating, your doctor may recommend a feeding tube to help you get nutrition.
Pain Medications: It can cause severe pain. Your health care team will give you medication to help manage your pain.
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Intravenous (IV) fluids: As your body devotes energy and fluids to repairing the pancreas , you can become dehydrated. For this reason, you will receive extra fluids through a vein in your arm during your hospital stay.