It should be agreed that bad habits seriously disrupt the functioning of all internal organs. Most detrimental addictions hit the pancreas. A harmful lifestyle leads to its inflammation. In the language of doctors, this disease is called pancreatitis. The patient has a whole gamut of unpleasant sensations, such as nausea, vomiting. But the most unpleasant manifestations that accompany pancreatitis are bouts of pain. How to treat pathology? And what can be done at home?
Pathology characteristic
The pancreas is an important internal organ that allows you to properly absorb the food that enters the human body. It secretes many hormones and enzymes, including insulin and glucagon.
The inflammatory process that occurs in the pancreas is called pancreatitis. Stagnation of enzymes in the organ leads to swelling and irritation. This phenomenon can occur suddenly, but can drag on for years.
This pathology is described by a medical history. Pancreatitis, according to the course, can be acute or chronic. However, in any case, such a disease leads to the gradual destruction of an organ important for the digestive system .
The main causes of pathology
Initially, we consider what sources lead to the development of a disease such as pancreatitis. Attacks, as a rule, occur when these factors are aggravated. But, unfortunately, it is not always possible to determine the reasons that lead to pathology in which the pancreas practically digests itself.
Doctors give the following factors, as a result of which pancreatitis is most often diagnosed:
- Improper nutrition. The abuse of junk food (spicy, fatty, fried) can provoke an attack of pancreatitis. What to do in this case? Refuse unhealthy diet and consult a diet. Fatty foods are extremely poorly absorbed by the body. As a result, there is a violation of the outflow of pancreatic juice. At the same time, its composition changes. Such factors provoke nausea, pain.
- Pancreatic injury. Damage to the organ can be caused by a strong blow to the abdomen, a car accident, a fall from a height, a knife or a gunshot wound. Sometimes this situation requires surgical intervention.
- Taking some medications. Certain drugs can negatively affect the functioning of the pancreas. Antibiotics, immunosuppressants, corticosteroids are quite easily able to provoke an attack of pancreatitis. What to do to the patient? Refuse these drugs and follow a diet.
- Alcohol abuse. Alcohol-containing drinks have an extremely negative effect on most organs. The pancreas is no exception. The same picture is observed as with malnutrition. The outflow of pancreatic juice is seriously impaired in the body, as a result of which the disease develops.
- Malnutrition. In this case, protein food is meant. If the body regularly suffers from a deficiency of these substances, a person begins to develop pancreatitis.
- The stones. Increment, moving along the bile ducts, contributes to the violation of the outflow of juice and provokes swelling of the organ. As a result, the patient experiences nausea, vomiting, pain, dizziness.
- Gastrointestinal pathology. Sometimes various diseases can trigger an unpleasant attack.
Symptoms of an attack
With this pathology, quite characteristic signs are noticed by patients. Almost every medical history contains such symptoms. Pancreatitis is manifested by severe pain. In this case, discomfort can last for hours.
The following symptoms are characteristic of pancreatitis:
- Abdominal pain. The most basic and frequent symptom. It appears in almost 80-95% of patients. The pain can be constant or recurring, burning or aching, spastic or acute. Discomfort is localized in the upper left abdomen and in the epigastric region. So acute pancreatitis is manifested. Attacks most often intensify after eating food (after 20-30 minutes). The patient experiences the greatest discomfort after eating fried, greasy, spicy, smoked food or taking alcohol. The pain can spread to the back, left clavicle, shoulder blade, arm. Very often, discomfort is girdling. With starvation, this symptomatology is significantly reduced. A forced posture also helps to reduce discomfort: it is easier for the patient to bear the pain while sitting, leaning forward slightly.
- Diarrhea. This symptom is observed in half of the patients. The chair has an unpleasant odor, has an unformed consistency. In feces, undigested fats are observed.
- Weight loss. Fairly common symptoms. May characterize attacks of chronic pancreatitis. As a rule, observed in the last stages of the disease.
- Nausea, vomiting. Such symptomatology does not bring relief to the patient. At the same time, combined with diarrhea, seriously dehydrates the body. The elasticity of the skin decreases, the integuments become very dry. Pointing of facial features is observed.
- Obstruction of the bile duct. “Red droplets” appear on the surface of the abdomen and chest. After pressing, they do not disappear. Yellowness of mucous membranes and skin as a result of squeezing the duct with a swollen gland is sometimes observed.
- Fever, chills, shortness of breath. Such symptoms indicate an inflammatory process in the body. In this case, it is necessary to begin adequate treatment immediately. Any delay can lead to quite serious complications.
After a series of such attacks, the disease becomes chronic. In this case, the patient periodically experiences all the symptoms characteristic of pancreatitis. But the most unpleasant thing is the gradual destruction of the organ.
First aid
Adequate therapy is prescribed only by a doctor. Self-medication, especially not knowing the true diagnosis, is extremely dangerous. At the same time, remember that severe discomfort in the abdomen should never be tolerated and drowned out by analgesics. Even if you know how to relieve an attack of pancreatitis at home, you should definitely be examined. This will protect against the development of extremely unpleasant complications.
If you experience discomfort in the abdomen, you should seek help from a gastroenterologist. If the patient experiences acute “twisting” pain, an ambulance must be called immediately. However, while the medical team is traveling, it is possible to alleviate the situation of a patient experiencing an attack of pancreatitis.
First aid includes the following recommendations:
- Reception of antispasmodics. Such drugs can relieve spasm. Thus, to ensure the outflow into the lumen of the intestine of pancreatic juice. In this case, it is recommended to use not tablets, but intramuscular injections. They will act much more efficiently and faster. The most effective drug is No-Shpa.
- Digestion medications. The patient is recommended to drink enzyme preparations: Festal, Mezim, Pancreatin. These funds help improve digestion and can relieve pain.
- Cold on the stomach. Such a procedure will greatly facilitate the condition of the patient. However, do not use ice cold. In this case, instead of relief, you can exacerbate the problem. It is advisable to use a heating pad filled with cold water, or ice wrapped in a bag and cloth. This event will not only relieve pain discomfort, but will relieve inflammation.
Doctors, explaining how to relieve an attack of pancreatitis, especially insist on the exclusion of any food. The patient only needs to drink. In this case, it is most advisable to give ordinary clean water or a mineral water without gas.
Home treatment
In severe cases, the patient will require hospitalization. But sometimes, after a thorough examination, the doctor prescribes the appropriate treatment to the patient and does not take him to the hospital. In this case, it is extremely important to know the people near the patient how to relieve an attack of pancreatitis at home. It is desirable that the No-Shpa drug and enzymatic drugs are always at hand.
Quite simple recommendations allow you to avoid repeated attacks:
- Hunger. The digestive tract must be completely relieved. In this case, iron will cease to produce enzymes that harm it. Therefore, patients are allowed to consume only water, tea and crackers during the first few days.
- Cold. Warming the pancreas is strictly prohibited. Such a procedure will lead to increased inflammation and will contribute to the destruction of the pancreas by its own hormones. Remember: the left hypochondrium "chooses" the cold! Therefore, an ice warmer should be applied to the pancreas.
- Peace. Pathology can very easily lead to the development of serious consequences. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend that you unload the entire body as much as possible. Patients are advised to observe bed rest until the symptoms of acute pancreatitis completely disappear.
Complications of the disease
What is dangerous pancreatitis? Attacks do not pass without a trace and very often lead to unpleasant complications.
These include:
- infection;
- cyst;
- necrotic tissue of the gland.
For critical disorders, the patient will need surgical intervention. After surgery, the patient is often prescribed insulin to regulate blood glucose levels. In addition, special medications containing enzymes that ensure the normal digestion of fats and proteins are recommended.
No less important is dietary nutrition, which in chronic pathology, the patient will have to observe his whole life. And completely abandon any alcohol.
Chronic pancreatitis can cause the following complications:
- blockage of blood vessels;
- fluid accumulation in the gland;
- periodic bouts of pain;
- blockage of the small intestine and bile ducts;
- risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Nutrition after an acute attack
Patients are recommended diet No. 5 for pancreatitis. However, after suffering an acute attack for several days, you should generally exclude the use of food.
Dietitians recommend the following rules:
- For 2-4 days, the patient is generally forbidden to take food. It is recommended to use only mineral healing waters, such as Borjomi, Essentuki No. 4. Drink in small quantities in small sips.
- 5th day. Very carefully allowed to expand the menu. In this case, you should know that the patient is prescribed a table for pancreatitis No. 5P.
- 6-7 day. The diet includes mucous soups, jelly, liquid cereals, kefir, steam cutlets of beef, chicken and fish. Allowed: mashed potatoes, vegetables. All dishes with pancreatitis should be stewed or boiled. The patient can drink weak tea, mashed apples, cookies, broth of wild rose.
Diet number 5
This pathology has one unattractive name - prediabetes. Unfortunately, when it comes to chronic pancreatitis, the chances of developing such a serious disease are high. To avoid the occurrence of diabetes mellitus, patients are prescribed a diet No. 5 for pancreatitis. This diet should be followed throughout life.
The basics of nutrition are the following products:
- milk, kefir, mild cheese, yogurt, sour curd;
- pasta, cereals (rice, oats, buckwheat);
- vegetables (beets, zucchini, carrots, pumpkin, potatoes);
- white stale bread, wheat crackers;
- low-fat fish;
- meat (turkey, rabbit, chicken, veal);
- fruit jelly, baked apples, berry sauce;
- decoctions of oats, fruit drinks, chamomile tea, non-acidic fruit juices;
- mashed soups, vegetable broths.
From diet should be excluded:
- fresh cabbage, sour fruits, legumes;
- sorrel, radish, spinach, radish;
- fresh bread, sweets, buns;
- spices and hot spices;
- canned food, smoked meats, sausages, eggs;
- fish, meat broths, borscht, cabbage soup;
- sweet soda, alcohol;
- ice cream, cream, sour cream;
- fried foods.
This diet involves eating about 6 times a day, in small portions. This will avoid the risk of overeating.
Patient opinions
Surprisingly, with this pathology, all patients recommend one thing: contact a gastroenterologist and do not delay the treatment! What do patients diagnosed with pancreatitis testify to? Reviews of patients tell about a significant improvement in well-being after medication prescribed by a doctor and adherence to a prescribed diet.
Most patients claim that after prolonged treatment they were even able to return to their normal diet. And at the same time they no longer experience characteristic painful symptoms.
Conclusion
History gives more than one example, when even incurable diseases were completely eliminated. Therefore arm yourself with patience, willpower and fully follow all the doctor’s instructions. I wish you health and good luck!