Do you feel acute pain in your upper abdomen to an extent where you cannot bear it? There is a possibility that you have pancreatitis. A medical condition that is caused because of the inflammation in your pancreas, a gland just behind your stomach and next to the small intestine. The pancreas is vital for digestion and regulating blood sugar levels.
The common cause of pancreatitis is the consumption of excessive alcohol or stones in your gall bladder. There is no cure for this condition but it can be managed and treated medically. In this blog, we are going to understand the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of pancreatitis.
Symptoms Of Pancreatitis
There are two types of pancreatitis that one can encounter. Acute and chronic pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis is caused when there is a blockage in the bile duct connected. In acute pancreatitis, doctors advise you to remove the gall bladder to get rid of this disease. This will only fast for a few days. This condition is mild to life-threatening.
Whereas chronic pancreatitis is a severe medical condition and can last for years. This is caused by excessive consumption of alcohol in the past years. Here the option to remove the gall bladder is not the primary treatment. The pancreas is responsible for producing secret hormones, like insulin and glucagon to maintain blood sugar.
And since individuals with diabetes have found pancreatitis can not entertain the option of removing the gall bladder. To manage this condition, you are required to make dietary and lifestyle changes to get better. Coming to the symptoms, are are below:
- Intense pain in the upper abdomen
- Experiencing nausea and vomiting
- The feeling of chills or fever
- Increased heart rate
- Fatty stools or diarrhea in case of chronic pancreatitis
- Eyes and skin turning yellow because of blockage in the bile duct
- Can lead to diabetes
- Developing gallstones
Diagnosis Of Pancreatitis
To diagnose this medical condition, your doctor will need your blood tests, ultrasound, CT Scan, stool test, and endoscopic ultrasound. The main idea of these tests and reports is to understand if there is an inflammation in the pancreas or any sign of stones in your gall bladder.
With early detection of the issue, it will be easy to treat the medical condition without removing an organ from your body. With endoscopic ultrasound, doctors can also cancer cells and blockages in the pancreas or small intestine.
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Treatment Of Pancreatitis
Apart from the removal of gallstones or gallbladder from your body, there is no complicated surgery involved. For chronic pancreatitis below treatments are prescribed:
👉 Medicine With Vitamins
Since this medical condition prevents you from absorbing the essential nutrients and vitamins that your body needs, you will be prescribed medicines. These vitamins include Vitamin A, D, E, K, and B to B12.
👉 Treatment For Diabetes
If you already have diabetes when diagnosed with pancreatitis, or chronic pancreatitis leads to diabetes, then your health care professional will recommend a diet plan. This diet plan will help you keep your sugar levels in check and give you a healthy life.
👉 Treatment Via Surgery
When your doctor recommends surgery to remove the infected part of your pancreas, or the whole of it, or gall stones, or the whole of the gall bladder, you will be asked to hospitalize. The surgery will also entail inserting Islet-auto transplantation in your liver to continue the production of insulin.Â
You will be required to take proper rest and be observed in the hospital for a couple of days. Ask your loved ones to accompany you in the hospital while you are being discharged, as you may not have your full strength.
Prevention Of Pancreatitis
The simple remedy for avoiding pancreatitis is reduced consumption of alcohol, smoking, and other recreational drugs. This can help you stay healthy and lead a life away from other diseases too. You can also choose to adopt a healthy diet or a low-fat diet to improve your digestion.Â
Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your routine for a complete absorption of nutrients and vitamins. You can also include more fluids into your diet like smoothies, juices, detox drinks, or plain old milkshakes to keep everything balanced in your body.
