💸 ⛅️ 🛣️ Pancreatic diseases: signs, treatment, menu 👩‍🌾 ⏱️ 👐

Pathological conditions of the pancreas adversely affect different functions of the body and can manifest themselves in a variety of dyspeptic disorders and severe pain. This gland, despite its small size and weight, plays a very important role, since it takes a direct part in the digestion processes and is responsible for the production of necessary enzymes, as well as insulin.

Any functional malfunctions in the work of this body can cause very dangerous consequences, so you need to seek medical help at the first sign of a disease of the gland.

Body functions

The pancreas is located deep in the abdominal cavity and fits snugly against the walls of the stomach. In adults, iron is an organ weighing about 70-80 g, and its size is about 25 cm. It performs two main functions:

The exocrine function, which characterizes the pancreas in that it is responsible for the production of pancreatic juice, which is necessary for a full digestion process. It is in pancreatic juice that the most important enzymes are present, which contribute to the breakdown of the main substances entering the body. In addition to enzymes, specific substances are present in this fluid that can neutralize the acidic environment of the juice produced by the stomach and protect its mucosa from various injuries.
Endocrine function, which is the production of the hormone glucagon hormone insulin. These substances play a direct role in carbohydrate metabolism and regulate blood sugar. When a person has insufficient insulin production, he develops a dangerous disease such as diabetes.

The main causes of pathologies

The main predisposing factors for the development of various diseases of the pancreas are:

All sorts of pathologies of the duodenum or biliary tract.
Difficult outflow of secretion, which is a consequence of tumor processes.
Mechanical injuries of the pancreas.
Anomalies of a congenital nature (genetic factor).
Chronic alcoholism
Some infectious diseases.
The effect of carcinogens and various toxic substances.
Improper or poor nutrition.
Psychosomatic factors associated with the presence of severe stress.

The effect of alcohol on the pancreas is very mixed. In certain cases, patients who suffer from chronic alcoholism often avoid inflammatory processes, while taking even a small amount of alcohol for non-drinking healthy people can sometimes result in death, which will be the result of destructive changes in the pancreas.

It often happens that organ damage is directly related to malformations of the anatomical structure (kinks, irregular duct structure, hypoplasia, etc.), severe infections of the fetus and mother during pregnancy. In addition, the age and gender of the patient, the environmental situation, his lifestyle, the harmfulness of production, as well as the presence of some concomitant diseases (diabetes, cholecystitis, hepatitis, etc.) can play a role in the development of diseases of the gland.

Before considering pancreatic treatment, we describe the symptoms.

Symptoms of similar diseases

The main signs of diseases of this organ are moderate or severe pain, a change in the shade of the skin, a variety of dyspeptic disorders.

Pain syndrome

Pain with the occurrence of pathologies of the gland can be dull and pulling, or sharp and intense (in acute inflammatory processes). They are observed in the epigastric region and pursue the patient constantly, can be seizure-like and occur when the usual way of eating changes (for example, after eating fatty or spicy foods, alcohol, overeating), and also after stressful situations. Pain, as a rule, gives to the left hypochondrium, back and scapula or is of a general herpes zoster in diseases of the pancreas. The signs do not end there.

The pain syndrome can decrease when taking a certain pose, for example, lying on the left side with legs bent at the knees. The patient’s suffering can be alleviated with cold compresses, while the use of heat contributes to a sharp increase in pain and the further development of the inflammatory process. With pancreatic necrosis, such a syndrome is so pronounced that it can sometimes lead to a pain in a person, which (like the underlying disease) poses a threat to life.

Dyspeptic disorders are usually accompanied by a lack of appetite, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea or constipation. At the initial stage, bloating, stool retention, flatulence, which is directly associated with enzyme deficiency and a lack of bile acid production, can be noted. A few days after constipation, frequent loose stools may occur. At the same time, the patient is haunted by excruciating thirst, weakness, dry mouth, and temperature and sweat may also increase.

What is accompanied by pain in the pancreas?

Vomiting

This reaction of the body is due to its general intoxication and, as a rule, does not bring relief. Initially, the contents of the stomach may be present in the vomit, and after that only bile is released. Frequent bouts of vomiting can cause loss of electrolytes and fluids, leading to dehydration.

In some particularly severe cases, this condition may be accompanied by a sharp decrease in blood pressure, a violation of the heart rhythm. If acidosis occurs, the patient may lose consciousness, which in most cases is a consequence of hypovolemic shock.

The skin in this case becomes icteric. This phenomenon is due to the fact that the edematous gland begins to compress the bile ducts. In addition, due to severe intoxication of the body and the occurrence of respiratory disorders, there is some cyanosis in the region of the nasolabial triangle, as well as in the navel.

In addition, during palpation of the abdomen , certain specific symptoms can be observed, which only a specialist can identify and evaluate. Laboratory tests, instrumental methods for diagnosing pancreatic pathologies, as well as determining hormonal disorders, also help to establish a diagnosis.

Diseases

The most common diseases of this organ are:

Pancreatitis of various etiologies (acute, reactive, chronic).
Tumors of a benign or oncological nature, pancreatic cysts.
Pancreatonecrosis is a necrosis of organ tissue.
Cystic fibrosis.
The presence of stones in the pancreas.
The defeat of the body, which is associated with the onset of diabetes.

Acute pancreatitis

This pancreatic disease is a sudden onset of inflammation, which is accompanied by edema and organ damage. In some cases, a very serious condition develops, for example, organ necrosis, accompanied by suppuration of the tissue and hemorrhage, which often leads to death even with intensive care.

The causes of this acute condition can be alcohol consumption, overeating, taking certain medications, and concomitant gall bladder pathologies. The process of inflammation is triggered by a violation of the discharge of pancreatic secretion, which provokes an increase in pressure in the main ducts. Active enzymes begin to penetrate the tissues of the body and cause the development of swelling, impaired digestive enzymes. Due to these processes (instead of splitting food), enzymes begin to digest gland cells.

During an acute attack of pancreatitis, a person experiences very severe pains that are poorly removed by medications. This condition aggravates vomiting, nausea, decreased blood pressure, changes in heart rate. With the development of such a pathology, the patient needs emergency care and hospitalization in a hospital.

How to treat the pancreas? Let's consider further.

Chronic pancreatitis

The course of this disease is long and is accompanied, as a rule, by periodic exacerbations. During periods of remission, pain is absent, and with exacerbation, a girdle pain syndrome of varying degrees of intensity appears.

At the same time, a decrease in appetite and nausea is noted, isolated bouts of vomiting of bile or food are observed. There is also bloating, instability of the stool, flatulence. As a rule, an exacerbation of the disease occurs due to a violation of the diet, after stress, drinking, exacerbation of gallbladder diseases, etc. What else can provoke pain in the pancreas?

Tumor diseases

Hormone-dependent tumors and malignant neoplasms (cancer) can occur in the pancreas. Tumors of a hormonal nature are malignant and benign; they develop due to an overabundance of hormones produced by the pancreas. Such processes are often accompanied by a violation of the metabolic process in the body.

Gland cancer is quite common. In the initial stages, attacks of nausea, fatty stools, lack of appetite, bloating, and weight loss are possible. The pain can be constant aching in nature. In the later stages, the patient's condition is complicated by frequent bouts of vomiting and profuse diarrhea, and the skin has a jaundice.

Pancreatic cysts

With a small cyst, the severity of pain is very weak, but if the neoplasm is large, it begins to compress the nerve endings in the gland, which causes acute pain. When the head of this organ is affected, weight loss, bloating, and frequent stools are noted.

In cases where a cyst is formed in the body or in the tail of the gland, nausea also appears, but constipation and discolored stool are typical symptoms of this. A large cyst can even be felt through the wall of the peritoneum. With suppuration of the neoplasm, the patient's condition is complicated by hyperthermia.

With cystic fibrosis, acute pain occurs in the intestinal region, fatty and loose stools appear, the volume of which exceeds the norm. A characteristic symptom in this case is a decrease in appetite, dry mouth, flatulence, muscle weakness, and small salt crystals appear on the skin.

Diabetes mellitus associated with the cessation of insulin production by the gland, as a rule, is not accompanied by pain syndromes. The main symptoms of this disease are constant thirst, an increase in urine volume, skin itching, a sharp feeling of hunger during the development of hypoglycemic crises, nausea, weight loss, and sweating.

Pancreatic necrosis

This pathological condition is accompanied by an acute and sharp pain syndrome behind the sternum, while pain can be given to the lower back, back, clavicle. Sometimes a pain syndrome of such strength leads to a shock state, accompanied by loss of consciousness.

Pancreas treatment

The treatment of such diseases depends on the type of pathology and is carried out taking into account the general condition, the severity of symptoms, the presence of concomitant diseases and contraindications. The basis of such activities is drug therapy and diet. Acute forms of the disease are treated in a hospital setting. Tumors, stones and cysts are removed operatively. Other pathologies that are associated with concomitant pathologies (cystic fibrosis, diabetes, liver disease) require specific therapy.

Drug treatment of the pancreas is based on the use of drugs that reduce the secretion of gastric juice, and the use of enzymes that do not contain bile components. Eliminate nausea will help drugs "Cerucal", "Motilium." From pain syndrome, antispasmodics No-Shpa, Mebeverin, Papaverin, etc. are recommended.

With functional disorders of the gland, it is used, as a rule, with medication containing enzymes. They significantly improve digestion, absorption of substances from the intestines, reduce excessive gas formation, increase motility and stimulate the elimination of unnecessary substances from the body.

In addition, in the treatment of the pancreas, traditional medicine is widely used, which are based on the use of decoctions of medicinal herbs. In this case, wormwood grass, dandelion roots, parsley, St. John's wort, and also some fruits - garlic, oats, flax seeds, etc. are used.

With pathologies of the pancreas, medications should be taken only according to the instructions.

Pancreatic diseases: signs, treatment, menu