The pancreas is an elongated, flat organ that is tucked just behind the stomach and -itis- is inflammation, and together, it is the inflammation of the pancreas. Our body's immune system triggers this swelling or inflammation and sends a message that the organ is grossly malfunctioning. The pancreas aids in digestion and in regulating blood sugars. 

Pancreatitis can be both acute and chronic. In the former case, it may appear suddenly and generally lasts for a short period, but the latter is a long-term condition. Moreover, the acute condition may improve on its own over time, but the latter needs immediate medical intervention, or else it could be life-threatening. In this article, you will learn about the early symptoms of Pancreatitis and everything related to it. 

Moreover, we from Medguard strongly insist on seeking immediate surgical intervention if the situation worsens. We are always ready to supply you with the best diagnostic equipment needed in this situation.  

Pancreatitis – The Causes Behind It

Here are some of the most common reasons behind chronic pancreatitis that includes –

• The commonest cause is alcohol abuse
• Family history of pancreatitis 
• Any kind of blockage caused by trauma, stones, or tumours in the pancreatic duct 
• Lupus
• Cystic fibrosis
• Alarmingly high triglyceride levels

Early Symptoms of Pancreatitis

One of the earliest signs of pancreatitis is indigestion which happens when the pancreas fails to supply the digestive enzymes to the stomach. As a result, your body fails to break and absorb the nutrients from your food resulting in gradual weight loss without any intention to do so. Apart from that, another basic symptom of pancreatitis is abdominal pain. 

• Feeling nauseous
• Vomiting
• Rapid heart rate
• rapid and shallow breathing
• Temperature

• Problems in digestion 
• Discomfort and pain after eating 
• Poop filled with fat
• Appetite loss and unintentional weight loss
• Dizziness 

Pancreatitis Types

There are two types of pancreatitis - one is acute, and the other is chronic

i) Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is not as common as chronic pancreatitis, but in the last forty years, the incidences of acute pancreatitis have risen. This has happened owing to an overall increase in alcohol intake and an increase in binge drinking. Another common cause is the gallstones that cause this condition. The average age of patients suffering from acute pancreatitis due to alcohol consumption happens to be 38, and 69 for gallstone-related pancreatitis.       

One of the early symptoms of acute pancreatitis is abdominal pain, which you will feel just below your ribs. The pain builds up fast and suddenly becomes severe in certain cases, or it may begin as mild pain and worsen gradually. As has been commonly seen, the pain spreads towards the back and across it and worsens severely with food intake. In very rare instances, in the case of diabetics and patients with kidney disease. Some other common symptoms are:

• Emesis or vomiting
• Lack of well-being
• Fever
• Bloating

If pancreatitis is not treated on time, it may affect other vital organs like the heart and the kidney. Under these circumstances, diagnostic tools from renowned suppliers like us, Medguard always come in handy.   

ii) Chronic Pancreatitis

The pancreas gets scarred and damaged as a result of the continuous inflammation process within it in the case of chronic pancreatitis. Calcium deposition happens, resulting in pancreatic stone formation, damage, and scarring. The scarring and/or the stones within the pancreatic duct cause duct blockage, disrupting the proper flow of the digestive juices.

Episodes of acute pancreatitis due to alcohol consumption may ultimately result in chronic pancreatitis and often need surgical intervention. Reliable and authentic diagnostic equipment from companies like us, Medguard, happens to be the best choice in this case. When the patient keeps on drinking even after these series of events, the result is chronic pancreatitis. 

• Persistent abdominal pain below the ribs is often relieved by curling up the body in a fetal position. The pain starts after having a heavy meal in case of pancreatitis due to gallstones. A majority of the patients with chronic pancreatitis experience no pain at all.

• Unintended weight loss with pale-coloured stools may occur due to indigestion. As there is a lack of digestive enzyme production that aids in digesting fats and certain vitamins, undigested fat remains in the gut and passes down in the stool in the end. The stool becomes loose, odorous, and pale in colour.
• Disruption in insulin production results in diabetes in patients with chronic pancreatitis
• Last but not least, there is a general feeling of malaise and sickness in the patient.

Takeaway

Pancreatitis can be managed by imbibing a healthy and balanced lifestyle and opting for immediate surgical intervention wherever and whenever necessary. We from Medguard are always there to help with the best diagnostic tools that are needed at this juncture. Also, we recommend you go through these helpful tips as you are planning to purchase these diagnostic tools. For further prevention measures, smoking and drinking should be avoided completely to lessen the risk of pancreatitis and help in recovery. If symptoms reappear, seek immediate medical help.