How to recognize pancreatitis and how to treat it - Lifehacker
Educational Program Health / / December 29, 2020
PancreatitisPancreatitis. Symptoms and Causes Is an inflammation of the pancreas. The disease is not that frequent: up to 100 casesThe problem of acute pancreatitis in the Krasnoyarsk Territory for every 100 thousand of the population.
Nevertheless, acute pancreatitis was the first in Russia for a long time.Acute pancreatitis E ‑ 01‑01‑004‑2.0‑2019 in the list of causes of "acute abdomen" - that is, severe pain, because of which people are forced to call an ambulance. Today, pancreatic inflammation has given way to acute appendicitis. However, the disease is still dangerous: about 3 people out of every 100 who seek help die.
Therefore, it is so important to be able to recognize the inflammation of the pancreas in time and not to miss the possible development of complications.
When to urgently seek help
Dial 103 or 112 immediately if symptoms presentSymptoms & Causes of Pancreatitis "Acute abdomen":
- severe sharp pain in the area stomach (in the upper abdomen, approximately in the center), which grows over time;
- nausea or vomiting;
- fever, chills;
- accelerated heartbeat;
- dyspnea;
- yellowish skin or whites of the eyes.
Such signs indicate that the inflammation has reached a serious scale and may have affected neighboring organs - the gallbladder, liver, kidneys. This is deadly.
In the event that there are no symptoms of "acute abdomen", but suspicions of pancreatitis remain, you can understand further.
What are the causes of pancreatitis
Unlike many other inflammatory processes, inflammation of the pancreas is not caused by viruses or bacteria.
The pancreas is located under the stomach and plays an important role in digestion: it produces the hormone insulin and enzymes necessary for the digestion of food. Normally, they immediately enter the intestines, but sometimes they can linger in the pancreas.
If there are a lot of digestive enzymes, they damage the cells of the gland. This is how it beginsPancreatitis. Symptoms and Causes inflammation.
Stagnation of enzymes in the pancreas is caused by various reasonsDefinition & Facts for Pancreatitis.
- Abuse alcohol. This is the most commonThe problem of acute pancreatitis in the Krasnoyarsk Territory a factor leading to the development of acute pancreatitis.
- Gallstones. They can block, among other things, the ducts through which digestive enzymes move.
- Obesity.
- Smoking.
- A variety of trauma to the pancreas, including surgery (for example, associated with removing stones from the gallbladder).
- High blood calcium levels.
- Autoimmune diseases.
In some cases, the cause of pancreatitis cannot be established.
What is pancreatitis
Depending on how active the inflammation is and how long it lasts, two types are distinguished.Definition & Facts for Pancreatitis pancreatitis:
- Acute. It occurs suddenly and can go away by itself as soon as the stagnation of enzymes stops. But it can develop into a life-threatening condition.
- Chronic. Appears after repeated attacks of acute pancreatitis, which goes away on its own, without treatment. The tissue of the pancreas is destroyed due to enzymatic attacks and becomes scarred. Enzyme withdrawal is impaired. The inflammation becomes chronic. There is a high risk that one day it will develop into a severe form of acute pancreatitis.
What are the symptoms of pancreatitis
Each of the types of pancreatic inflammation has its own symptoms.Pancreatitis. Symptoms and Causes.
Symptoms of acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis usuallySymptoms & Causes of Pancreatitis begins after eating, while the pain:
- appears in the upper abdomen, closer to the center;
- sometimes gives to the back, it seems as if it is encircling;
- occurs suddenly or increases gradually;
- it can be both strong and aching, quite bearable;
- can last for several days.
If the inflammation grows and becomes dangerous, additional symptoms appear: nausea, vomiting, fever and other signs of "acute abdomen", which we wrote about above.
Chronic pancreatitis symptoms
First of all - regular aching pain in the upper abdomen. It is rarely strong, and in some cases it is so light that people do not pay attention to it at all.
Chronic pancreatitis may have no symptoms at all until complications arise.
However, quite often there are characteristic signs:
- regular and seemingly inexplicable nausea;
- frequent diarrhea;
- fatty, foul-smelling stools (steatorrhea);
- weight loss despite the fact that neither lifestyle nor diet has changed.
What to do if you suspect pancreatitis
Any regular abdominal pain, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms (nausea, digestive disorders) is a reason to go to a therapist or gastroenterologist. This is important for a number of reasons.
First, it may not be pancreatitis at all. What exactly hurts in the stomach, only a specialist will find out after the examination. And the options are multifaceted - from dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome or gastritis before developing cancer.
Secondly, if we are talking about pancreatitis, in no case should it be started. Even if abdominal pain appears only occasionally and seems minor. Without treatment, pancreatitis canPancreatitis. Symptoms and Causes provoke other conditions, sometimes very serious and even deadly.
- Diabetes. In the pancreas damaged by inflammation, insulin production is disrupted, which becomes a trigger for the development of diabetes.
- Pseudocysts. Due to acute pancreatitis, fluid can accumulate in one or more alveoli of the pancreas (in this case, they speak of the formation of a cyst-like "pocket"). Rupture of a large pseudocyst can lead to internal bleeding and cause peritonitis.
- Renal failure Acute pancreatitis can lead to inflammation and severe kidney damage.
- Breathing problems. Due to the fact that the pancreas is also responsible for the production of certain hormones, its damage can cause changes in the body that affect the functioning of the lungs.
- Pancreas cancer.
How to treat pancreatitis
First you need to clarify the diagnosis. The doctor will conduct an examination, ask about the symptoms, the time of the onset of pain, offer to take some testsPancreatitis. Diagnosis and Treatment. Usually this:
- Blood tests. They will help confirm inflammation and detect elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes.
- Stool analysis. This test measures the amount of fat in the stool. The procedure is lengthy and takes up to 72 hours. She is prescribed to confirm chronic pancreatitis.
- Ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) of the abdominal organs. The purpose of the research is to assess the degree of inflammation of the pancreas, as well as to detect gallstones (if any).
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Its task is to identify pathologies of the gallbladder, pancreas or bile ducts.
Treatment depends on the form of the disease.
Treatment of acute pancreatitis
Only in the hospitalAcute pancreatitis: modern concepts of etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. Therapy includesTreatment for Pancreatitis into myself:
- Starvation. This is important to turn off digestion and give the pancreas a chance to rest and recover. Nutrition, if necessary, is administered intravenously.
- Prevention of dehydration. The patient is given a dropper with saline.
- Hypothermia. A cold compress (such as an ice pack) is applied to the stomach area to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Taking painkillers, antispasmodics.
- Sometimes antibiotics. They are prescribed in the event that tissue necrosis has begun and bacterial inflammation has joined the pancreatitis.
Mild acute pancreatitis in such conditions disappears in a few days. In severe cases, surgery may be required: the surgeon will remove gallstones or dead tissue from the pancreas.
Chronic pancreatitis treatment
The main task is to reduce pain, improve the functioning of the pancreas and prevent complications. To solve it, the doctor may prescribe:
- medications, such as enzyme tablets, to reduce the stress on the pancreas;
- vitamins, most often A, D, E and K, which are closely related to digestion;
- surgery if stones are found in the gallbladder that can block the ducts, or if part of the pancreas is permanently damaged.
In addition, the gastroenterologist will advise you to follow a diet, give up spicy and fried foods, and bake, boil or steam most dishes.
How to prevent pancreatitis
Here's what they recommendTreatment for Pancreatitis doctors for the prevention of diseases of the pancreas.
- Limit your alcohol intake.
- Try to quit to smoke.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Eat a balanced diet: less sugar (including sugary drinks), more high-content foods fiber. Such a diet will reduce the risk of developing gallstones, which are one of the leading causes of acute pancreatitis.
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