Pancreas is a long gland located beneath your stomach in the upper portion. Any swelling or inflammation of the pancreas is known as pancreatitis and sometimes it can be life threatening. Pancreas is about 15 cm long and lies closely with the stomach. It secretes certain enzymes that are useful for breaking up the food particles you eat and helps digestion. It also makes important hormones like insulin that is responsible for controlling blood glucose. The hormones produced by the pancreas stay inside the endocrine cells called islets of Langerhans.
Whenever the blood sugar level is rising, it would release insulin and other hormones to control it. Thus they help in monitoring the blood glucose and store the extra glucose in the liver and muscle to use them at the times of need. The body gets regular supply of energy in the form of glucose which is needed for metabolism. In addition to insulin, pancreas also produces glucagon which helps increasing the blood sugar level whenever needed.
Types and Symptoms :
Pancreatitis occurs in two types namely acute and chronic :
Acute pancreatitis is short lived and develops suddenly. The effects of such inflammation can range from mild to very severe. For some people it causes mild discomfort but for others it can cause internal bleeding and infection. Acute form can cause severe abdominal pain that extends towards your back and the pain would become intense after eating. It would also cause nausea and vomiting for many people. Mild fever and increased heartbeat is also common in acute pancreatitis.
Chronic pancreatitis causes slow damage to the pancreas and often alcohol is the main culprit causing it. Chronic form would cause symptoms like pain in the abdomen and produce oily stools with foul smell. The affected person will lose weight gradually due to poor absorption of food. He may also develop diabetes since the insulin hormones are not produced in enough quantity.
Causes :
Major causes of acute pancreatitis are alcohol abuse and gallstone formation. It can also be caused due to severe infections, intake of certain medications and metabolic disorders. For some cases actual cause is not known. In case of chronic pancreatitis heavy drinking is the major cause. Cystic fibrosis, gallstones, certain medications and high triglycerides can also cause chronic pancreatitis. Abdominal surgery can also cause pancreatic problems. Increased level of calcium in the blood can cause pancreatitis.