Signs of Pancreatic Disease

Why be aware of the various signs of a disease, if the doctor is still engaged in setting the diagnosis and prescribing treatment? This is a mistaken and sometimes dangerous misconception. Each of us must carefully observe our body, its smallest changes and manifestations. This will allow you to recognize the symptoms of the disease at an early stage of its development, in time to turn to the right (narrow) specialist, to get a more effective treatment. Today we will talk about the pancreas - what kind of body it is, what functions it performs, and also consider the main signs of pancreatic dysfunction and diseases associated with this body.

Pancreas

This is a small body, measuring 15-20 cm, which is located under the stomach.The organ plays a huge role in the digestive process. It performs two important functions - the production of enzymes and hormones. Enzymes are necessary for the body to break down foods into proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The pancreas allows all nutrients to be absorbed into the walls of the stomach and intestines. In addition, the pancreas performs endocrine function and produces insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels.

It is rather difficult to probe the pancreas, therefore, for the diagnosis of its condition, an examination, blood and urine tests, and an ultrasound examination are used. Ultrasound of a healthy body will show smooth and clear contours, uniform structure and density. Treatment of a patient of the pancreas is quite a long and difficult task, so an abdominal ultrasound scan should be performed promptly. But what symptoms can indicate a malfunction of the pancreas?

Symptoms of pancreatic diseases

Many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas have similar symptoms. However, on closer examination, the symptoms of the disease may differ.

1. Abnormalities in the work of the pancreas first of all manifest various problems with the chair. The patient may have constipation, which is replaced by diarrhea, there is flatulence, bloating. This is due to impaired supply of laxative enzymes that are produced by the pancreas.
2. One of the most common manifestations of pancreatic diseases is pain in the abdomen. The pancreas has many nerve endings that respond to stretching and or squeezing of an organ. The pain may be dull or acute, overt or slight depending on the particular disease. Most often, the pain is localized near the navel, may be right or left, depending on how much of the pancreas is affected. The pain may increase after eating or not depend on it.
3. The more the pancreas is affected, the greater the pain. In some cases, it can be localized in the chest and even the clavicle. In this situation, it is very important to exclude heart disease. In some cases, the pain can be so severe (with pancreatic necrosis) that it can even be fatal.
4. Diseases of the pancreas are accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Symptoms are worse after eating fatty, spicy, salty, or smoked foods. In addition, nausea and vomiting can be aggravated when taking certain medications, under stressful situations, while taking alcohol, while consuming cold, fatty foods, etc. Vomiting develops quickly, its peculiarity is that it does not bring the desired relief, as during food poisoning. During vomiting, the entire contents of the stomach are first excreted, and then the vomit consists of bile.
5. Frequent vomiting can lead to dehydration. First, it is manifested by increased thirst, dry skin, rare urination. More severe degrees of dehydration can be extremely dangerous, especially for children.
6. With pancreatitis (one of the diseases of the pancreas), the bile duct becomes constricted. Because of this, the skin may acquire a special yellowish tint.
7. In some cases, symptoms such as cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle and fingers, pallor of the face may indicate pancreatic diseases.In some cases, blue-yellow spots may appear on the stomach on both sides of the navel. This is due to impaired blood circulation in the abdominal cavity.

If you experience one or more of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

How to recognize a disease of the pancreas

To verify the suspicion of a disease of the pancreas can be using palpation of the abdominal cavity. Usually the following techniques are performed by a doctor, but with sufficient awareness they can be carried out at home.

1. Try to feel the left costal-vertebral angle. It is located just below the left rib and with inflammation brings serious pain.
2. Place two fingers just below the navel, about a couple of centimeters. Lightly push and move to the side and up. When pressed, the patient with pancreatitis will feel a sharp pain.
3. Measure from the navel about 7-8 cm up, about the width of the palm. Knock on this area with your palm pushes. In diseases of the pancreas, pain is inevitable.

A more accurate location of the painful nodes will help determine the doctor.If you suspect pancreatic disease, you should seek help as soon as possible. But what could cause such a condition?

Pancreatic diseases

Depending on the reasons that caused disturbances in the work of the pancreas, several major diseases of this organ can be identified.

1. Pancreatitis. This is an inflammation of the pancreas, one of the most common diseases of this organ. Pancreatitis develops due to the violation of the outflow of enzymes and digestive juice from the gland to the small intestine. Enzymes that do not find a way out destroy the tissues of the gland itself, nearby organs. Most often, the disease occurs on the background of malnutrition, high consumption of fatty, salty and fried foods. Depending on the form of the disease, pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. Most often, the pain worries in acute periods, giving the spine, in some cases, the pain has a shingles character. When eating abnormal and dangerous food, nausea and vomiting increase.
2. Pancreas cancer. This is a neoplasm in the region of an organ that has a malignant nature. Most often, cancer develops against the background of other pancreatic diseases. The pain can be aching for a long time or sharp, as in acute pancreatitis. Standard vomiting and nausea in this case is accompanied by a strong swelling, weight loss, loss of appetite, a strong depletion of the body. The skin becomes yellow or especially pale.
3. Cystic fibrosis. It is an inherited disease that is genetically transmitted. The disease can affect the respiratory organs, the digestive system, the external secretion glands. A distinctive feature of cystic fibrosis are characteristic pains along the intestine, which occur like cramping. In this disease, the patient has frequent loose stools that exceed the permissible rate several times. Due to abundant diarrhea, dehydration develops. In this disease, the person feels very dry mouth, muscular weakness, salt crystals form on the skin.
4. Diabetes mellitus type one. If the pancreas ceases to perform its functions (that is, it does not produce the required amount of insulin) or does not do so sufficiently, diabetes mellitus of the first type develops.This disease differs from other pathologies of the pancreas in that there are no characteristic abdominal pains and discomfort during its course. However, there are other symptoms - strong thirst, a characteristic feeling of hunger and weakness, vomiting, nausea, weight loss. The number and volume of urination increases, itchy skin, heavy sweating, rapid heartbeat, the smell of acetone from the mouth, etc.
5. Pancreatonecrosis. This is the death of pancreatic tissue caused by prolonged or acute pancreatitis. One of the most dangerous and painful diseases of the pancreas. Against the background of severe pain, a state of shock may develop, a person may lose consciousness and even die. The disease is characterized by delayed stools and severe abdominal distention.
6. Pancreatic cyst. These are small formations in pancreatic tissues, limited in size by hollow walls. Inside the cyst is a liquid. When cysts form, the pain is usually dull and not pronounced, only if the cyst does not squeeze the nerve canal. The pain can be localized in the right or left side of the abdomen, depending on the location of the cyst in the body of the gland.If the cyst is located in the head of the gland, this is accompanied by abdominal distention, frequent stools, weight loss. If the cyst has struck the body and tail of the pancreas, constipation, nausea occur, and the stool becomes colorless.

Many diseases of the pancreas - is the result of a wrong lifestyle.Nutrition plays a crucial and fundamental role in maintaining health. There is a need to regularly, in small portions, not to experience the body with long hunger strikes. Discard the fried, fatty, salted and smoked. Eat regularly and balancedly. Give up bad habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol. Do not abuse the medication, especially without a doctor's prescription. Every six months, do an abdominal ultrasound. These simple rules will help you protect your pancreas from various diseases or identify the disease at an early stage of its development.

Video: symptoms of pancreatic inflammation