The pancreas is six inches long and is located below the liver. The main functions of the pancreas are to produce digestive enzymes and the hormone insulin, which helps to regulate blood glucose levels.
There are several conditions that can affect the functioning of the pancreas, and these include cancer, cysts, acute and chronic forms of pancreatitis, diabetes, and conditions that inhibit the production of digestive enzymes.
All come with symptoms that act as warning signs that the pancreas is unhealthy. Here is a closer look at six disorders that can damage this organ and lead to an unhealthy pancreas.
Pancreatic cancer has a low survival rate beyond five years of diagnosis despite the treatments available, which include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. It is often diagnosed late, and symptoms include weight loss, abdominal pain, nausea, and other digestive symptoms.
Those who are clinically obese, smoke, drink alcohol regularly, or have a family history of pancreatic cancer are most at risk of suffering from this aggressive and hard-to-treat form of cancer.
Pancreatic cysts can either be benign or malignant. Cancerous cysts can spread just like other forms of cancer. These cysts can sometimes form as a result of a rare genetic disorder known as von Hippel-Lindau’s disease.
A benign cyst is also known as a pseudocyst; even though it is not cancerous, it can still cause abdominal bloating, nausea, and pain and discomfort. These cysts can be hard to diagnose, but once they have been discovered through MRI or CT scans, they are usually left alone, if not cancerous, and only treated if they grow large enough to obstruct the functioning of the pancreas. If this occurs, then surgical removal is an option.
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas often caused by alcohol abuse or gallstones. It leads to severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and elevated pancreatic enzymes. Acute pancreatitis is sudden and usually resolves with treatment.
Chronic pancreatitis is a more long-term condition that continues to progress, and inflammation can lead to permanent damage to the pancreas. Abdominal pain, digestive problems, weight loss, and malnutrition are classic symptoms of this condition.
Commonly caused by long-term alcohol abuse or certain genetic factors, it disrupts normal enzyme secretion and impairs digestion. The pancreas gradually loses its ability to function, resulting in complications like diabetes and poor nutrient absorption.
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterised by high blood sugar levels. It occurs due to either insufficient insulin production, which is known as type 1 diabetes, or ineffective utilisation of insulin by the body’s cells. This is type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes can lead to vision impairment, nerve damage, heart disease, and even kidney failure. Infections can also become more frequent and harder to treat, even with the use of antibiotics. Management involves blood sugar monitoring, medication, lifestyle modifications like diet and exercise, and in some cases, insulin injections.
Treatment aims to maintain blood sugar within a healthy range to prevent complications and promote overall well-being.
Diabetics with adequate blood glucose control through lifestyle changes and medication can live symptom-free for extended periods, and prolong their life expectancy, due to avoiding any serious complications that are associated with this disease.
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, or EPI, occurs due to an insufficiency in the production of digestive enzymes. This condition can be caused by other disorders that affect the pancreas, such as pancreatitis. Cystic fibrosis is also another major cause of this condition.
EPI can lead to the malabsorption of nutrients, and this can cause weight loss and malnutrition, along with deficiencies in vitamins that are essential for good health.