Happy is he who does not know what pancreatitis is. And it is better not to get close acquaintance with this disease, because pancreatitis is an insidious and dangerous enemy of our body, which causes a lot of torment to a person. In addition, it is fraught with many complications that threaten not only health but also life.
So what is pancreatitis? What are the reasons for his appearance, and how does he announce his presence?
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreatic tissue that develops as a result of exposure to pathogenic factors on the body, which we will discuss below. An inflamed pancreas, the main function of which is the secretion of enzymes that promote digestion, stops throwing them into the duodenum. They, in turn, are activated inside it and contribute to its destruction (self-digestion). Thus, to answer the question: "Pancreatitis - what is it?" maybe so - this is a dangerous disease, which in the absence of proper treatment leads to pancreatic necrosis and death of the patient.
In most cases, a person rewards himself with pancreatitis. This disease is a faithful companion of those who abuse alcohol. And it is absolutely not necessary to drink every day and in unlimited quantities. Pancreatitis quite often comes to lovers of “one hundred grams for appetite,” and to those who drink “rarely, but accurately.” Pancreatitis is also “liked” by fans of fatty and high-calorie foods, lovers of sweets. Pancreatitis often accompanies gastritis, diseases of the duodenum, liver. Especially often it is diagnosed in those who suffer from gallstone disease. The disease can also develop against the background of stresses, become a complication of the flu, food allergies, blunt trauma to the abdomen. Sometimes (in about 5% of cases), it develops after operations on the biliary tract and stomach. In about a third of patients, the cause of the disease remains undetermined.
Pancreatitis can be acute and chronic.
The main symptomatic manifestation of acute pancreatitis is an intolerable girdle pain, which sometimes gives off under the left shoulder blade and sternum. An attack of pancreatitis is often accompanied by an increase in temperature, a decrease in pressure, and vomiting. If such symptoms appear, one should not hope that they will disappear on their own and everything will settle down - urgent hospitalization is needed. Otherwise, the pancreas will begin to “devour” itself and its partial or complete necrosis will occur.
Treatment of acute pancreatitis must be carried out in a hospital. The basis of therapy is a strict diet in combination with some medications that the doctor prescribes individually. After the course, it is also necessary to adhere to the diet recommended by the doctor, abandon strong drinks and engage in the treatment of diseases of the liver, gall bladder and stomach.
In the case of non-compliance with the recommendations of the doctor, the patient will have to find out what chronic pancreatitis is. And this acquaintance is unlikely to be pleasant. After all, the chronic inflammatory process in the pancreas is frequent aching pains, constant nausea and burping, disruption of the stomach and intestines, loss of appetite and a whole "bunch" of unpleasant symptoms. In addition, this disease has the habit of worsening quite often, especially due to a violation of the diet, is not very well treatable and causes many complications: diabetes, obstructive jaundice, cyst formation, bleeding, and cancer.
If you lead a healthy lifestyle, try to protect yourself from stress, eat right and monitor your well-being, then you can never know what pancreatitis is.