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Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that lies very deep inthe upper abdomen. Meanwhile,inflammation is an immune system response to injury. In most cases, injury to the pancreas is caused by gallstones that block the pancreatic duct, or by alcohol and medication use.
But did you know that the pancreas is not one but two glands with different functions?
The exocrine gland secretes digestive enzymes into a network of ducts that become the main pancreatic duct. The function of this gland is to help with digestion by producing digestive enzymes, such as amylase. The endocrine gland, better known as the ‘islets of Langerhans’, secretes hormones into the bloodstream, such as insulin, thereby helping to regulate blood sugar levels.
There are two kinds of pancreatitis: acute and chronic.
Acute pancreatitis comes on suddenly, doesn't last long, and can resolve in a few days with proper care and rest. But about one in five cases of acute pancreatitis can be severe enough to result in complications - even death.
Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, is an ongoing condition thatdeteriorates over time. It may cause permanent damage to the pancreas. The pervasive inflammation leads to scar tissue (fibrosis), which prevents the production of enzymes and hormones.
Most people can live with chronic pancreatitis for a long time before symptoms appear. So,
The symptoms of pancreatitis are not the same for all people. Pancreatitis causes pain that can be felt in the upper left side or middle of the abdomen, called the epigastric region. The pain may be quite bearable or severe and it often moves from the stomach to a person's back. The pain caused by acute pancreatitis is often more intense and penetrating than that caused by chronic pancreatitis.
For some people, chronic pancreatitis may cause pain that comes and goes. But for others, the pain is constant.
Pancreatitis pain often worsens when lying down or after eating - especially after a fat-rich meal.
The pain can also worsen with exercise, eating, or coughing and can subside when sitting upright, eating less, bending over, or curling into a ball.
Apart from abdominal pain, both acute and chronic pancreatitis may lead toadditional symptoms. A person with acute pancreatitis may experience nausea, vomiting, a fast heart rate, fever, and rapid, shallow breathing.
A person with chronic pancreatitis may experience indigestion and pain after eating, loss of appetite and resulting weight loss, greasy stools, dizziness, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
One of the leading causes of pancreatitis isgallstones. The condition is also known as gallstone pancreatitis or biliary pancreatitis. Gallstone pancreatitis is caused by a gallstone blocking the pancreatic duct. The blockage causesinflammation.
How does this happen?
The liver, gallbladder, and pancreas are all part of the digestive system. All of them produce and deliver fluids to the duodenum. The liver produces bile, the gallbladder stores, concentrates, and releases bile, and the pancreas produces digestive enzymes which it delivers to the duodenum.
The liver, gallbladder, and pancreas share a common pathway for delivering fluids to the duodenum. If gallstones enter the common bile duct, it can temporarily prevent the pancreas from releasing pancreatic juice. When this happens, pressure can build up behind the gallstone, activating the enzymes within the pancreas and causing it to begin digesting itself. This condition is known as gallstone pancreatitis.
Gallstone pancreatitis can be resolved when this gallstone is removed.
Chronic alcohol use is themost common cause of chronic pancreatitis - about 40 to 70% of all cases.
Scientists currently don't fully understand how alcohol causes pancreatitis, butresearch hints that alcohol affects the small ducts and cells in the pancreas. They suspect that alcohol makes the pancreatic fluids thicker, which may cause the small ducts to become blocked. These blockages can turn into small stones, causing inflammation and scarring. Eventually, this results in damage to cells in the pancreas.
Pancreatitis also increases an individual's risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
These include:
Mild acute pancreatitis is not a major health risk but severe acute pancreatitis can lead to several complications including death. Mild acute pancreatitis has a low mortality rate (less than 1%) but severe acute pancreatitis has a mortality rate of30 percent.
Some people with severe acute pancreatitis develop a systemic reaction. This means the entire body may go into shock with several organs stopping to function at the same time. This condition is fatal - if not treated immediately.
If you suspect to have pancreatitis or have been diagnosed with it, you must be vigilant and consult your doctor immediately.
Chronic pancreatitis is not without complications either, but the symtoms develop over time and can be treated accordingly. This brings us to:
Treatment for pancreatitis depends on what caused the condition, whether it’s acute or chronic, and how severe it is.
If you have mild acute pancreatitis, you will spend a few days in the hospital where you will be monitored, and receive IV fluids, pain medication, and antibiotics. You may be allowed to have clear liquids or a low-fat diet. The condition usually clears up after a few days of rest.
This serious condition happens when patients develop serious complications, such as pseudocysts, pancreatic necrosis, or infection of the pancreas.Treatment options involve:
Treatment for chronic pancreatitis involves pain management, supplements, and surgery.
If your pancreatitis was caused by alcohol use, it’s crucial to stop drinking alcohol. If you are a smoker, you should also stop smoking. These two habits play a vital role in the onset and progression of the disease.
It's also necessary to start following a low-fat diet as a damaged pancreas can't produce sufficient digestive enzymes to digest fats.
Because a damaged pancreas can't produce enough digestive enzymes, fats are difficult to digest, so a low-fat diet is recommended for people with pancreatitis.
Here is a list of food items recommended for people with pancreatitis.
While beans and whole grains provide protein, protein from meat contains all the necessary amino acids for health. Examples of lean meats that are easier on the pancreas include:
Scientists have found that eating 2 to 3 servings of fish per week may decrease the risk of non-gallstone-related acute pancreatitis.
When preparing meat, be careful how you prepare it. It's pointless to buy lean meat and then deep-fry it. It's best to bake, broil, or grill meats, poultry, or fish.
Dairy is nutritious and a good source of multiple vitamins, minerals, and protein. Choose low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products like yogurt and cheese. Read the labels when you purchase cheese to ensure you buy products with the least fat content. As a general rule, soft cheese tends to have less fat. Cottage cheese and ricotta are good choices.
You can try alternative milk products such as milk made from almonds, other nuts, oats, rice, and soy. These don't have the same nutrient profile as cow's milk though, and must be fortified. Avoid coconut milk as it's high in fat.
Apart from following a low-fat diet, here are some tips to help you recover from pancreatitis and avoid future attacks:
Research is still ongoing regarding the role of fiber in pancreatitis. Currently, a low-fiber diet is recommended in the early stages of acute pancreatitis. When symptoms have subsided,pre-biotic fiber intake is recommended to protect the gut barrier function and gut integrity so bacteria can't cross the gut barrier and cause infection in the pancreas.
However, for chronic pancreatitis, a high-fiber diet is not advisable because fiber may put extra strain on the damaged pancreas, leading to malabsorption issues.
On the other hand, there isresearch that indicates fiber in the diet may reduce the risk of gallstones - one of the causes of pancreatitis. So, if you wish to prevent pancreatitis, a good start is to eat fiber-rich diet.
Alcohol use is one of the main causes of chronic pancreatitis. For alcohol-related chronic pancreatitis, there is probably nothing worse than alcohol. In fact, continued use of alcohol while sick with chronic pancreatitis can result in death.
High-fat foods cannot be properly digested when the pancreas is not functioning optimally. Examples of high-fat foods to avoid are:
Refined carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels quickly, which requires the pancreas to secrete insulin. With pancreatitis, the pancreas may not be able to do this and this may increase the risk of diabetes. Examples of refined carbohydrates include:
An acute attack of pancreatitis can clear up, and you can minimize your risk of another attack by avoiding alcohol, not smoking, and following a balanced diet.
However, if you have been diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis, you have a chronic, ongoing disease. Most people (80 percent) with chronic pancreatitis will have a life expectancy of at least10 years after they are diagnosed.
In the case of acute pancreatitis, the pancreas can recover with rest, avoidance of alcohol, tobacco, and adherence to a balanced diet.
With chronic pancreatitis, the pancreas has suffered irreparable damage. Chronic inflammation can cause scarring and loss of pancreatic tissue, decreasing the ability of the pancreas to repair itself.
Yes, ripe bananas are good for pancreatitis. They are easy to digest, contain no fat, and are high in soluble fiber, reducing the risk of gallstones.
Pancreatitis is a serious health condition. Acute cases can resolve in a few days, but chronic pancreatitis is a grave, ongoing condition that gets worse over time. It causes irreversible damage to the pancreas.
Chronic pancreatitis can be managed with various treatments, including a low-fat diet, but it is not curable. It is a debilitating condition that can, for the most part, be avoided by simply abstaining from alcohol.