What Do You Know About The Pancreas And Its Great Role In The Body

The pancreas

It is one of the outer glands of the digestive system, which is located behind the stomach. It has some of the functions of the endocrine and endocrine glands, including the secretion of juices that contain a number of digestive enzymes loyal to the twelve, these enzymes help to digest food.

The pancreas also produces hormones such as insulin that play an important role in the absorption, metabolism, and storage of nutrients such as glucose. An endocrine function in the pancreas leads to diabetes.

The endocrine part of the pancreas works to produce two important hormones - insulin and glucagon - both of which are secreted similarly from the pancreas and also act similarly in most circumstances. In short, insulin increases the storage of glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids. On the other hand, glucagon is a catabolic hormone, so it gathers glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids from stores in the bloodstream.


pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas.
Pancreatitis can occur as an acute inflammation - meaning it appears suddenly and lasts for days. Or pancreatitis can occur as a chronic inflammation, which is pancreatitis that appears over several years.
treatment is unnecessary in cases of mild injury where healing takes place without the need for treatment.
In severe cases, treatment should be taken, otherwise, serious complications will occur.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of pancreatitis may vary, depending on the type you are exposed to.
Signs and symptoms of acute pancreatitis include:
  • Pain in the upper abdomen
  • Abdominal pain that extends to your back
  • Abdominal pain that worsens after eating food
  • fever
  • A fast pulse
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Allergy when touching the abdomen

Signs and symptoms of chronic pancreatitis include:

Pain in the upper abdomen
Losing weight without trying to do so
Oily stool, with a bad odor (fatty diarrhea)

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor who has been feeling persistent abdominal pain. Get immediate medical help if your stomach ache is so severe that you cannot stand and cannot find a position that makes you feel more comfortable.

the reasons

Pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes become active while in the pancreas, which leads to irritation of the pancreas cells, and hence its inflammation.

With recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis, the pancreas can be damaged and damaged, and this leads to chronic pancreatitis. The scar tissue may form in the pancreas, causing its functions to be disrupted. Poor functioning pancreas can cause diabetes and digestive problems.

Some of the conditions that can lead to pancreatitis include:

  • Abdominal surgeries
  • Alcoholism
  • Specific medications
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Gallstones
  • High levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), which may be caused by increased activity of the parathyroid glands (hyperparathyroidism)
  • High levels of triglycerides in the blood (hyper triglycerides)
  • infection
  • Abdominal injury
  • Obesity
  • Pancreas cancer
  • Endoscopic examination of bile ducts and internal pancreas (ERCP) is a procedure followed in the treatment of gallstones, which may lead to pancreatitis.
  • Sometimes there is no cause for pancreatitis.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of developing pancreatitis include:

Excessive consumption of alcohol. 
Research has shown that alcohol users (people who consume four to five drinks a day) are at increased risk of developing pancreatitis.

Smoking.
Smokers, on average, are three times more likely to develop chronic pancreatitis compared to non-smokers. The good news is that quitting smoking reduces the risk of infection in half
Obesity. You are more likely to develop pancreatitis if you are obese.

Family history of pancreatitis.
There is a growing recognition of the role of genetics in chronic pancreatitis. If a member of your family suffers from this condition, your infection rate will increase, especially if it is related to other risk factors.

Complications

Pancreatitis can lead to serious complications, which include the following:

False cysts.
 Acute pancreatitis can lead to fluid and debris accumulating in cyst pockets in the pancreas. The disruption of large false cysts can lead to complications such as internal bleeding and infection.

Infection.
 Acute pancreatitis can make this organ susceptible to bacteria and infection. Pancreatic infection is dangerous and requires extensive treatment, such as surgery to remove infected tissue.

Kidney failure.
 Acute pancreatitis can lead to kidney failure which can be treated with dialysis if kidney failure is severe and persistent.

Breathing difficulties.
 Acute pancreatitis can lead to chemical changes in the body that affect lung function, causing low levels of oxygen in the blood to dangerously low levels.

diabetic. 
Damage to cells that produce insulin in the pancreas due to acute pancreatitis can lead to diabetes, a disease that affects how the body uses sugar in the blood.
Malnutrition.
 Both acute and chronic pancreatitis can cause the pancreas to produce fewer enzymes that are needed to analyze and treat nutrients from a person's food intake. This can lead to malnutrition, diarrhea, and weight loss, despite eating the same type or in the same quantities.
Pancreas cancer. 
Continuous inflammation of the pancreas due to chronic pancreatitis is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.

References :

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