Things You Need to Know About Pancreatitis

A key part of the digestive system, pancreas is a large gland located behind the stomach and next to the small intestine. Pancreatitis is one of the most severe and common ailments related to this gland. This pancreatic damage ideally occurs when the digestive enzymes present in this gland are triggered before being released into the small intestine. In this scenario, these enzymes start attacking the pancreas. Pancreatitis can be classified into two broad categories, acute and chronic pancreatitis.

• Acute Pancreatitis: This causes short-lived, but sudden inflammation of the pancreas. Even though, at times, this may cause people only a mild discomfort, it can even be the source of life-threatening ailments. After getting the necessary treatment from reputed pancreas specialist in Delhi, Mumbai or some other large city, most people with this disease can recover completely. When acute pancreatitis becomes very severe, it might even cause serious bleeding, infection, tissue damage, and cyst formation. It might even cause damage to important organs like the heart, kidneys, and lungs.

Symptoms of Acute Pancreatitis:

• Long-lasting, high fever
• Noticeable increase in the heart-rate
• Swelling and tenderness in the abdomen
• Severe nausea and unmanageable vomiting
• Pain in the upper abdominal region that spreads to the back
• Chronic Pancreatitis: This ailment is caused by a long-term inflammation of the pancreatic gland. An episode of acute pancreatitis as well as heavy alcohol abuse can ideally trigger such a chronic condition. Heavy alcohol consumption over a prolonged time might cause damage to the pancreas without its symptoms being apparent for many years. Aged individuals however might suddenly and unexpectedly develop the symptoms of severe chronic pancreatitis.

Symptoms of Chronic Pancreatitis:

• Diarrhea and nausea
• Consistent and long-lasting pain in the upper abdominal region
• Severe weight-loss caused by improper absorption of food
• Damage to the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas that might also cause diabetes

Multiple risk factors can contribute to acute or chronic pancreatitis. Some of them being:

• Gallstones
• Heavy and consistent use of alcohol
• Autoimmune diseases and infections
• Cystic fibrosis and high triglycerides
• Inherited metabolic disorders of the pancreas

Certain medications can also pose a risk of causing pancreatitis as such people should never take medicines, even if herbal, if the ingredients used in them have been contraindicated. At the slightest indication of this ailment, it is advisable that people consult any renowned pancreas specialist in Delhi, Mumbai or some other city, to get a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Conditions to Watch Out For

The branch of medical science dealing with the disorders and diseases that affect the digestive system or the gastrointestinal tract is Gastroenterology. The gastrointestinal tract basically features the various internal organs lying along the alimentary canal of the body, between the mouth and the anus. The medical practitioners specializing in this field are referred to as gastroenterologists. People should contact the best gastroenterologist in Gangaram hospital or such other prominent medical facilities in case they face problems related to the digestive system.

Here are some of the symptoms of major gastrointestinal conditions that people should keep a watch for, and contact a gastroenterologist in case of their development:

• Heartburn: This can be defined as a distinct burning sensation felt in the throat or chest area.  People suffering from heartburn for more than six months might need to be treated for GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Typically heartburn develops when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus.

 

• Irritable bowel syndrome: Referred to as IBS at times, while this medical condition does not lead to any severe ailment, its symptoms can be quite irritable and might even cause hindrance in the performance of various daily activities of people. Their symptoms are :
  • Bloating
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Abdominal pain

 

If IBS is diagnosed in the right time, it can be managed by making certain lifestyle changes.

• Inflammatory bowel disease: Commonly referred to as IBD, this basically is a group of disorders. These disorders include:
• High fever
• Loss of appetite
• Sudden extreme weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Chronic pain in the abdominal area
• Rectal bleeding

• Celiac disease: Known to be an autoimmune disease, this condition typically hinders the capacity of the body to process gluten. Gluten is kind of a component found in rye, barley, and wheat. The common symptoms of celiac disease are:
• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Depression or irritability
• Gas
• Stomach pain
• Rashes and blisters

By contacting the best gastroenterologist in the Gangaram hospital or some other reputed medical facility in the country, people can avail the best treatment for all kinds of gastrointestinal disorders as mentioned above.