Pancreatitis: Doctor explains everything you should know about this painful and often ignored condition

The pancreas, although often ignored, is a vital organ in the body, and its central role is to digest food by producing the required enzymes. It also helps balance the energy in the blood. Pancreatitis is a condition where an individual's pancreas is infected or injured, which causes inflammation, resulting in severe pain in the stomach.
Generally, depending on the symptoms and the duration of the pain, Pancreatitis is differentiated and treated for effective results. If the patient is suffering from pain in the upper abdomen or is suffering from nausea and vomiting with shortness of breath for a short time, it is an indication of acute Pancreatitis.

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If the patient has similar symptoms for an extended period of time and constantly suffers, then it is known as chronic Pancreatitis. Individuals with chronic Pancreatitis also lose weight and have pain in their stomach after every meal.

Why does it happen? The presence of gallstones in the pancreatic duct and consuming excessive amounts of alcohol are the significant reasons recognised for acute Pancreatitis. In some cases, people with high levels of calcium and triglycerides in their blood have a high chance of developing Pancreatitis.
Consumption of alcohol and smoking, and having too much fat in the blood, are other leading causes of chronic Pancreatitis, as per the case studies. In a few instances, patients already suffering from kidney diseases, autoimmune diseases, and vascular diseases are likely to develop chronic Pancreatitis.

Individuals with Pancreatitis often experience kidney failure because acute Pancreatitis impairs the kidneys' ability to filter waste from the bloodstream. Also, in some cases, it harms the lungs by reducing the oxygen level present in the lungs. Acute and chronic Pancreatitis lead to malnutrition, as the pancreas will lose the ability to digest food and produce energy. As is well known, the pancreas regulates the glucose level of the body by secreting insulin. When there is Pancreatitis, it does not secrete enough insulin, which causes diabetes in the patient.

Individuals with acute Pancreatitis can fight the illness by taking antibiotics and IV fluids as recommended by the doctor. To balance these medications, it is suggested to take a low-fat diet. If the blockage of the pancreatic duct is the reason for Pancreatitis, then the gallstone should be removed through surgery. This helps in a speedy recovery.

Generally, the person is prescribed to take painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicine to support the pancreas. In some cases, the patient is injected with pancreatic enzymes to provide the required nutrition and energy to the body. To give the pancreas enough rest, the patient is advised to follow a low-fat diet and stay hydrated.
Dr. Amit G Yelsangikar_MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DNB (Gastroenterology), Apollo Spectra Hospital, Bangalore