{"id":2718,"date":"2018-09-25T22:03:44","date_gmt":"2018-09-25T22:03:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=2718"},"modified":"2021-10-13T01:24:39","modified_gmt":"2021-10-13T01:24:39","slug":"12-possible-pancreatitis-causes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/12-possible-pancreatitis-causes\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Possible Pancreatitis Causes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The gland that sits in the upper area of the abdomen behind the stomach is called the pancreas. The main function of the pancreas is to secrete enzymes and hormones that help regulate the sugar levels in the blood as well as with food digestion. The enzymes that are produced by the pancreas are released into the small intestine via the pancreatic duct and aid indigestion. Glucagon and insulin are produced by the pancreas and are released into the bloodstream in order to regulate blood sugar.<\/p>\n

When the pancreas becomes inflamed it is referred to as pancreatitis. Pancreatitis may be chronic or acute. Some of the symptoms include pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and pain that worsens after eating. Abdominal tenderness, fever, and stools that are oily and quite smelly are also symptoms of pancreatitis. Here are 12 possible causes of pancreatitis causes to consider.<\/p>\n

1. Genetics<\/h3>\n

One possible cause of pancreatitis is unfortunately one that cannot be controlled. Genetics<\/a> seems to play a role in whether or not a person may develop this condition. There are simply certain people who have a genetic predisposition to develop it. If a person has a close family member who has had either acute or chronic pancreatitis, the chances of you developing the condition are very high.<\/p>\n

If pancreatitis runs in your family it is a good idea to get regular medical check-ups in order to detect it before it becomes more problematic and causes serious damage to the gland. It is also a good idea to know the other risk factors for developing pancreatitis and try to avoid them as much as possible. A person who has a genetic disposition to develop pancreatitis may have a mutation of a specific gene known as the cationic trypsinogen gene that causes the disorder. <\/p>\n

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2. Alcohol<\/h3>\n

One of the most well-known facts about pancreatitis is that regularly consuming alcohol<\/a> can be a direct cause of the inflammation of the pancreas. Alcohol not only can cause pancreatitis, but it can be damaging to many other areas of the body as well. While it is known that excessive alcohol abuse can cause pancreatitis, the exact mechanism of how alcohol causes the pancreas to become inflamed is not exactly understood.<\/p>\n

One theory states that drinking alcohol may cause the enzymes within the pancreas to begin digestion inside of the pancreas. Some of the ingredients found in alcohol may cause the digestive enzymes to be activated before they should be. In addition, it can also cause damage to the pancreas as the enzymes may reach the parenchyma. Binge drinking is related to acute pancreatitis. Make sure that you drink plenty of water when drinking alcohol and remember all of those drinks when you are young can lead to pancreatitis later. <\/p>\n

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3. Gallstones<\/h3>\n

The gallbladder and pancreas are close together in the body. Some people may develop gallstones<\/a> in their gallbladder. Most of the time these stones pass easily and do not cause much damage. However, when the stones move from the gallbladder there is a chance that they may block the pancreas opening. When gallstones are found to be the cause of pancreatitis, there is a chance that the gallbladder may have to be surgically removed because future gallstones may lead to the recurrence of pancreatitis.<\/p>\n

If the pancreas continues to become inflamed over and over again, it can cause more and more damage. This damage can create scar tissue. The scar tissue can alter the normal function of this gland. When the pancreas does not function properly it can increase the risk of developing several diseases, including pancreatic cancer. This is why it is important to get regular checkups and to avoid some of the foods and other things that may cause gallstones or inflammation. <\/p>\n

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4. Medication<\/h3>\n

When it comes to treating a medical condition, there are many medications that can provide benefits. However, most medications while solving one problem may cause side effects as well. One of the side effects of certain medications is pancreatitis. If you are someone who takes medication regularly in order to treat a disease it can increase your risk of developing pancreatitis<\/a>. This is especially true if you are taking more than one type of medication each day.<\/p>\n

Some of the common medications that are associated with increasing the risk of pancreatitis include estrogens, tetracycline, valproic acid, sulfonamides, corticosteroids, methyldopa, as well as several similar types of medicines. If you are taking these medications and notice some of the symptoms of pancreatitis, it is important to discuss this with your doctor. While the medications may be helping with one medical condition that you are having, they also could be causing more issues than necessary. <\/p>\n

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5. Surgery<\/h3>\n

Most people do not choose to have surgery unless it is medically necessary. In fact, surgery<\/a> is often the last resort to treat a health problem. If a person does need to have surgery, there could be some complications that can arise. This includes the development of pancreatitis. This is especially true if the surgical procedure is within the abdomen. Most of the time, when surgery is the cause of pancreatitis it is acute pancreatitis.<\/p>\n

It is not known why having surgery can cause pancreatitis to develop after the surgical procedure. Often times, pancreatitis that develops after surgery is quite difficult to diagnose. Since pancreatitis can be difficult to diagnose after surgery, it can often lead to numerous complications. If you are in pain following surgery, make sure that you discuss it with your doctor. It is a good idea to be tested for pancreatitis to determine if this is the cause of your pain. <\/p>\n

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6. Hypercalcemia<\/h3>\n

Hypercalcemia<\/a> is the name given to a condition that occurs when too much calcium is found in the bloodstream. Most often, hypercalcemia occurs because the parathyroid gland becomes overactive. When the parathyroid gland is overactive it can cause calcium build-up within the blood. Other reasons that a person may develop hypercalcemia include taking excessive doses of vitamin D, total parenteral nutrition, and familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia.<\/p>\n

When a person has too much calcium in their blood it can lead to the development of pancreatitis. One of the reasons for this is because a build-up of calcium can lead to gallstones. As mentioned, when gallstones develop they can end up blocking the pancreas. This can cause the pancreas to become inflamed, which is why pancreatitis develops. If you have been diagnosed with hypercalcemia it is important to have regular checkups to help detect pancreatitis as early as possible. <\/p>\n

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7. Diet<\/h3>\n

When it comes to your overall health, eating a healthy diet<\/a> is extremely important. This is something everyone should already know. The saying that you are what you eat is quite true. A person who eats a regular diet of unhealthy foods such as those that are highly processed or foods that have a high amount of fat can increase the risk of the pancreas becoming inflamed. The reason for this is because the pancreas has to work extra hard to decompose these types of foods.<\/p>\n

When the pancreas is overworked, pancreatitis is more likely to develop. The good thing to know about this particular cause of pancreatitis is that it can easily be managed. All you need to do to control it is to eat a diet that includes healthy foods such as legumes, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and dairy products. It is also important to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water each day. <\/p>\n

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8. Smoking<\/h3>\n

When it comes to smoking cigarettes<\/a> there is really nothing good that comes of it. There are numerous health related issues that are caused by smoking cigarettes and pancreatitis is just one of many. If you currently smoke cigarettes the best possible thing that you can do is to quit immediately. Quitting smoking as soon as possible can not only decrease your chances of developing pancreatitis, but it can also help your health in general.<\/p>\n

Since smoking can cause many different health issues, quitting should be a priority. There are numerous quit smoking aids available that can help you quit this extremely harmful habit. Most states have programs to help you quit and these programs are free of charge. Using quit smoking aids along with having a good support system will improve your odds of being able to quit this bad habit and remain a non-smoker for longer. <\/p>\n

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9. Drug Abuse<\/h3>\n

Already on this list of common causes of pancreatitis are alcohol consumption and smoking<\/a>. For this reason, it should not be surprising that drug abuse can also increase your risk of developing pancreatitis. In fact, abusing certain drugs can not only increase the risk of pancreatitis, but it may destroy your pancreas altogether. This is similar to using certain medications to treat your medical conditions. However, using street drugs can be far more detrimental to your pancreas. If you currently use drugs it is important to quit as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

While quitting drugs can be difficult, there are numerous programs available that can help you. When you stop abusing drugs your body will immediately begin to repair itself. This includes repairing the damage that may have been done to the pancreas by the drug abuse. Get help from a local source in order to quit using drugs and start leading a healthier lifestyle. <\/p>\n

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10. Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography<\/h3>\n

ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) is a procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and gastrointestinal endoscopy as a way to treat issues with the pancreatic and bile ducts. The bile ducts are the tubes that carry the bile from the liver to the duodenum and gallbladder. The pancreatic ducts carry pancreatic juices from the pancreas<\/a> into the duodenum. There is an increased risk to develop pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.<\/p>\n

This risk is increased if the ERCP is done by an endoscopist who does not have a lot of experience. Other risk factors include sphincter Oddi dysfunction and when a manometry is performed on the sphincter Oddi. One of the ways to help reduce the risk of developing pancreatitis after this procedure is through aggressive intravenous hydration and rectal indomethacin. Both of these have been noted to reduce incidences of pancreatitis following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. <\/p>\n

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11. Abdominal Injury<\/h3>\n

Since the pancreas is located in the abdominal area, any injury that occurs to the abdomen may increase the risk of developing pancreatitis. If you are punched hard in the stomach or if there is damage to the abdomen from any type of accident, there is an increased chance of the pancreas becoming damaged as well. When there is damage to the pancreas, it may not function the way that it should. It may also become swollen or inflamed because of the abdominal injury.<\/p>\n

When this occurs, a person may experience extreme discomfort<\/a> and show symptoms of pancreatitis. It is important to make sure that you have any type of abdominal injury checked out as soon as possible because there may actually be more internal damage than you realize. A physician will be able to help determine the exact injury and provide proper treatment for any ailment that may develop because of the abdominal injury. <\/p>\n

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12. Infections<\/h3>\n

A person may develop an infection for a number of reasons. Exposure to bacteria<\/a> and viruses occurs on a regular basis. When the body cannot fight off the bacteria or virus on its own, an infection may develop. When this infection is left untreated it can become quite problematic. There are certain infections that may even cause pancreatitis to develop. In addition, when a person has an infection, chances are that they will be given a medication to help the body get rid of the cause of the infection.<\/p>\n

These medications, as mentioned can cause pancreatitis to develop as well. It is important to make sure that you have any type of infection treated by your doctor right away. Appropriate treatment for infections is the first line of defense against further health issues arising. Since infections can wreak havoc on all areas of the body, including the pancreas, getting proper treatment right away is important.<\/p>\n\r\n

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