Pancreatitis – causes, symptoms, treatment. Diet for pancreatitis

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Pancreatitis causes mild symptoms that may persist for a long time. People struggling with pancreatitis often mistake the symptoms for indigestion or the effects of stress. Unfortunately, the symptoms may differ depending on the type of pancreatitis. So let’s know what should make us visit a doctor.

Pancreatitis – the role of the pancreas

The pancreas is an organ that plays a very important role in digestive processes in the digestive system. The follicular cells produce pancreatic juice, which then goes to the gastrointestinal tract, namely the duodenum, i.e. part of the intestine.

Pancreatic juice is involved in the digestion of food. It consists of numerous enzymes responsible for digestion:

1. fats: lipases, phospholipases, esterases;
2. proteins: trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, carboxypeptidases, nuclease;
3. carbohydrates: pancreatic amylase.

Pancreatic juice is stored in the pancreas in an inactive form. Follicular cells also produce a substance that inactivates the active form of the enzyme when it has appeared inside the cell for some reason. If all processes are going well, pancreatic enzymes should only be activated in the duodenum.

Unfortunately, when these defense processes fail, the pancreas is damaged and an inflammatory process develops, namely acute pancreatitis. Currently, statistically, about 20-30 people per 100 suffer from acute pancreatitis, but research shows a gradual increase in the incidence of the disease.

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Pancreatitis – causes

Pancreatitis can have many causes, but it is primarily caused by factors related to everyday habits and lifestyle. Therefore, the main causes of pancreatitis are:

1. a diet rich in fats and sugars;
2. overweight and obesity;
3. long-term use of certain drugs;
4. alcohol abuse;
5. smoking.

In addition, pancreatitis may be associated with various diseases of the gallbladder, hyperthyroidism or chronic renal failure. Among other reasons, genetic and autoimmune factors should be mentioned.

Pancreatitis can also be a consequence of various injuries, such as burns or radiation during radiotherapy. The most common injuries of the abdomen during various accidents. The reason may also be a previous operation, and even anatomical defects in the structure of the glandular tissue of the organ and its ducts, or disturbances in the work of the biliary tract.

The cause of acute pancreatitis can also be:

1. bulimia;
2. anorexia;
3. diabetes;
4. hipercholesterolemia;
5. malnutrition;
6. cystic fibrosis;
7. intestinal inflammation;
8. kidney failure;
9. systemic lupus erythematosus;
10. cancers.

Pancreatitis is also caused by the use of certain substances. They are mainly:

1. alcohol;
2. amphetamine;
3. antibiotics;
4. chemotherapeutic agents such as penicillin or trimethoprim;
5. venom, e.g. scorpion;
6. cholesterol-lowering drugs, e.g., cholestyramine;
7. immunosuppressants, such as, for example, cytosines, methotrexate;
8. diuretics, e.g. furosemide;
9. drugs from the group of NSAIDs;
10. opiates;
11. drugs that inhibit gastric acid secretion, e.g. ranitidine;
12. medicines to treat high blood pressure and heart problems, e.g. procainamide.

It should be remembered that the main cause of the development of pancreatitis are dangerous digestive enzymes that have been activated inside the cells of the pancreas. As a result, they become damaged. Active enzymes enter the adjacent tissues and blood vessels, so that inflammatory cells accumulate in the organ area. Numerous substances are released that damage the pancreas, causing swelling, ischemia and necrosis.

This leads to the loss of a significant amount of active pancreatic tissue. Initially, it is local in nature and may stop at this stage as an edema. However, if the processes responsible for stopping this process fail, other organs are also damaged. The acute form of pancreatitis can lead to serious multi-organ complications that can be fatal.

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Pancreatitis – types

Symptoms of pancreatitis may vary depending on the type of medical condition. There are three types of inflammation:

1. chronic pancreatitis;
2. acute pancreatitis;
3. autoimmune pancreatitis.

The greatest threat to the health and life of the patient is acute pancreatitis, which is usually very violent. The same factors as in the case of chronic pancreatitis may be responsible for its development and it is often, for example, an inadequate diet. In autoimmune pancreatitis, inflammation does not only affect the pancreas, but also other organs. An abnormal immune response is responsible for its development.

Inflammation of the pancreas – symptoms

Each of the above types of pancreatitis can cause various symptoms:

1. chronic pancreatitis – in the course of the disease, inflammations are quite frequent and recurrent. They lead to the replacement of the pancreatic parenchyma with fibrous connective tissue, which leads to organ failure. Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis are most often associated with the abdominal area or the lumbar spine and digestive system. Symptoms most often appear after eating high-fat foods or alcohol. Most often it is a burning, stabbing pain in the upper abdomen, pain in the lower back or in the left side that may radiate to the scapula. In addition, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, constipation and diarrhea appear. The sick person feels weak, has no appetite and is losing weight. Fatty stools also appear. These symptoms are recurrent and may be of various severity, therefore it is difficult to clearly identify chronic pancreatitis on their basis. Many people associate them with indigestion, overeating, gastric neurosis or irritable bowel syndrome. If chronic pancreatitis is not treated, it can lead to hyperglycaemia and the development of diabetes;
2. acute pancreatitis – in acute pancreatitis, the symptoms are usually sudden and acute. There is a sudden and severe upper abdominal pain which spreads to the spine. Additionally, there is fever, weakness, and a feeling of well-being. Patients experience nausea, vomiting, increased thirst, anxiety, reddening of the skin of the face and increased heart rate. These symptoms most often occur with such intensity that it is difficult to ignore them and most often the patient quickly reports to the doctor;
3. autoimmune pancreatitis – it is a consequence of an immune system response. Type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis is characterized by elevated levels of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) in the blood serum. In addition, it should be remembered that the inflammatory process does not only affect the pancreas, but can also spread to other organs, such as the gallbladder, kidneys, and the prostate gland. In the case of type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis, tests do not show elevated levels of IgG4, and only the pancreas is inflamed.

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Pancreatitis – treatment

Treatment for pancreatitis varies depending on whether it is chronic or acute. In the case of chronic inflammation, it is recommended to prohibit drinking alcohol and smoking at the initial stage of treatment. In addition, sick people are advised to switch to a diet high in calories and high in protein. What’s more, if there are vitamin D deficiencies, its supplementation is recommended.

As an adjunct in the treatment of pancreatic problems, use ECO Pancreatic Tea.

Under pharmacological treatment of chronic pancreatitis painkillers, opioids and coanalgesics are given. Some cases require the combination of opioid and coanalgesic therapies. An important element of treatment is supplementing the deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins. However, if the patient develops flatulence and diarrhea, and he is losing weight, it is necessary to implement substitution therapy with pancreatic enzymes.

In the case of chronic pancreatitis, it is also possible to introduce invasive treatment, which consists in:

1. removing plaque from the pancreatic duct;
2. introducing a stent into the pancreatic duct;
3. treatment of pseudocysts;
4. resection procedures.

While treatment of acute pancreatitis it requires the help of a doctor and in most cases ends with the introduction of hospital treatment. In addition, the patient should introduce an easily digestible diet, i.e. low in fats. Pain medications, electrolytes and body fluids are given as needed. If the situation requires it, antibiotics are given. Surgical treatment of pancreatitis it is only started if other treatments have failed or if your doctor finds necrotizing pancreatitis.

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Pancreatitis – complications

There is also a risk of complications with pancreatitis. With chronic pancreatitis, the patient is exposed to:

1. pancreatic pseudocysts;
2. thrombosis;
3. diabetes;
4. pancreatic cancer;
5. narrowing of the bile duct.

Pancreatitis – autoimmune pancreatitis

Autoimmune pancreatitis can have symptoms similar to pancreatic cancer, so the first step is to rule out a developing cancer. The disease often presents with jaundice, which may vary in severity. The occurring abdominal pains are rather mild. One of the methods of treatment is corticotherapy, i.e. the administration of synthetic hormones of the adrenal cortex.

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Pancreatitis – laboratory tests

Pancreatitis causes symptoms that over time force a person to see a doctor. After a medical interview, he must refer the patient to laboratory tests, because without them he is not able to make a final diagnosis. The performed tests include:

1. blood count with a smear to reveal the presence of elevated levels of cells involved in inflammatory responses, i.e. leukocytes. In addition, the level of glucose increases and the level of calcium is lowered. Ion level disturbances also appear. In addition, the development of inflammation is also evidenced by the greater activity of pancreatic enzymes in the blood (diastasis, pancreatic lipase, aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase);
2. radiological examinations – allows you to see the fluid in one or both pleural cavities;
3. ultrasound examinations;
4. computed tomography;
5. Faecal tests – to assess the amount of faecal excretion of substances that are normally digested by pancreatic enzymes.

Pancreatitis – diet

People with pancreatitis must have fasted for a while. After this period, only oral nutrition is introduced. At the beginning, the task of the diet is to reduce the consumption of fats and, to a small extent, also of proteins. Therefore, the supply of carbohydrates is increased to balance the body’s caloric needs.

It is worth introducing herbs into the diet, e.g. if you drink them regularly during the day. Try Pancreas – a herbal blend available at an attractive price on Medonet Market.

Diet of people with pancreatitis assumes eating 5 small meals during the day. At this stage, it is advisable to eat light-colored bread, small groats, potatoes, pasta, oil, vegetables and fruits. Consumed meat and dairy products should be lean and meals easy to digest. Therefore, it is best to stew, cook and bake in foil or parchment.

It is very important to avoid eating heavy or heavy meals. You should eliminate fatty milk, cheese, eggs and fatty and cured meat (e.g. duck, pork) from your diet. It is also worth giving up dark bread and thick groats, smoked fish, cream, lard, cherries, nuts, plums, pears, beans, chives, cabbage, peas and peppers.

Only after 4-6 weeks of the diet can the amount of fat in the diet be gradually increased. You should monitor your body and when digestive system ailments appear, you should stop for a dozen or so days and return to the previous diet. Some patients require pancreatic enzyme medications with more fatty and bulkier meals to help the pancreas work.