Medical practitioners are unable to pinpoint the exact causes of pancreatitis. However, some of the common causes that have been linked to the development of pancreatitis include:

• Alcohol: excessive alcohol consumption forces the pancreas to work in overdrive as it attempts to filter alcohol as it travels through the digestive system.
• Gallstones: gallstones can block the pancreatic duct, which results in inflammation, and pain in the pancreas. 
• Infections/Injuries: infections, and injuries, or trauma to the pancreas can result in pancreatitis.
• Medical conditions: certain medical conditions, like cystic fibrosis, have been associated with pancreatitis.

While most pancreatitis cases do not cause complications, they still pose a threat. Some of the known pancreatitis-related complications of acute pancreatitis are:

• Chronic pancreatitis: Recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis often lead to chronic pancreatitis. Because the pancreas lacked ample time to recover from inflammation, the scarring of the tissues (fibrosis) interfered with the pancreas’ ability to function at its optimum level. As it gradually reduces the production of digestive enzymes, and vital hormones, it triggers other complications such as malnutrition, and malabsorption.
• Necrosis, and infection: the blood supply to the pancreas can be disrupted, or cut off due to swelling of the pancreas. This results in tissue death (necrosis), which attracts infection-causing bacteria that can enter the bloodstream (septicemia). As the body’s immune system kicks into gear to fight off the infection in the bloodstream, it causes blood vessels to enlarge, causing blood pressure to drop (septic shock), decreasing blood flow to vital organs, which ultimately leads to multiple organ failure.
• Pancreatic pseudocysts: the pancreatic duct can lose its function of producing enzyme-rich fluids, which aid in digestion, when it becomes inflamed. As a result, pancreatic fluids leak around the pancreas, causing inflammation around the surrounding tissues. Gradually, these inflamed tissues develop into hardened growths known as pseudocysts. Although most pseudocysts do not cause any symptoms, they can cause discomfort, and pain when they grow large enough.

Additionally, complications that can arise from chronic pancreatitis include:

• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), and malnutrition: the lack of digestive enzymes, the small intestine slowly reduces its ability to absorb essential nutrients. This causes excess fat to pass through the stool, and eventually causes chronic diarrhea. Additionally, this causes the body to lose weight, and begin showing symptoms of malnutrition.
• Hypo- or hyper-glycemia, and type 1 diabetes: as the pancreas loses its ability to produce adequate hormones to regulate blood sugar, the body begins to develop symptoms for hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) due to a lack of insulin, or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) due to a lack of glucagon. This depends on which hormone is affected first. Regardless of which hormone takes the first hit, the body begins to develop diabetes due to low levels of both hormones.
• Pancreatic cancer: as inflammation is a common risk factor for pancreatic cancer, chronic pancreatitis increases the likelihood of developing pancreatic cancer in a lifetime. Because the symptoms of pancreatic cancer, and chronic pancreatitis often overlap, doctors recommend that patients with chronic pancreatitis undergo routine cancer screening as a preventive measure.

Abdominal pain is often the primary symptom of pancreatitis, with additional symptoms for acute pancreatitis including:

• Fever.
• Fast, yet shallow breathing.
• Nausea.
• Rapid heart rate.
• Vomiting episodes.

Meanwhile, the additional symptoms of chronic pancreatitis include:

• Appetite loss.
• Fatty or oily stool.
• Indigestion, and discomfort after eating.
• Low blood pressure-induced lightheadedness.
• Unexplained weight loss.

These symptoms often indicate that your pancreas is slowly losing its function. If you or anyone you know is experiencing these systems, then it is time to get in touch with us to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors.

Although pancreatitis can affect anyone, there are some risk factors that can increase the possibility of developing pancreatitis. These symptoms include:

• Diabetes: if you are diagnosed with diabetes, then the likelihood of you developing pancreatitis is increased.
• Excessive alcohol consumption: an excessive alcohol consumption can irritate the pancreas, and increase the risk of developing pancreatitis.
• Genetics: if you have a family history of pancreatis, then you are more likely to develop pancreatitis in your lifetime.
• Obesity: obesity has been associated with an increased risk of developing pancreatitis.
• Smoking: your chances of developing pancreatitis are increased if you are a smoker.

Our esteemed doctors often start diagnosing pancreatitis by assessing your family’s medical history, as well as your symptoms. Other than that, our doctors will have additional tests to be done to confirm a pancreatitis diagnosis:

• Pancreas blood test: a pancreas blood test is done to identify elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes in the blood. Pancreatitis will often show pancreatic enzyme levels that are 3 times higher than normal.
• Imaging tests: imaging tests, such as a computed tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), will be able to determine the presence of any abnormalities, swelling, and leakages in the pancreas, which confirms a pancreatitis diagnosis.

Meanwhile, our doctors may also ask for additional tests to be performed if they suspect that you have chronic pancreatitis. These additional tests can include:

• Faecal fat analysis: a faecal fat analysis is performed to assess excess fat in the stool, or determine signs of malabsorption.
• Glucose test: a glucose test is done to determine if the pancreas is functioning at an optimum level to produce sufficient insulin.
• Stool elastase test: a stool elastase test is performed to determine if the pancreas is producing sufficient digestive enzymes.

Treatment for pancreatitis depends on the cause, and the severity of the condition. But generally, the treatment options for pancreatitis are:

Medication

• Antibiotics: our doctors may prescribe antibiotics if you are at risk of pancreatitis-related infections.
• Pain relief: our doctors may prescribe pain relief, either intravenously or orally, to manage pancreatitis-related pain.
• Supplements: our doctors may prescribe certain supplements, such as pancreatic enzymes, if you develop exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Additionally, nutritional supplements may also be recommended to ensure you are receiving enough micronutrients, and calories.

Surgical Intervention

• Laparoscopic surgery: if your pancreatitis is caused by gallstones, then you may undergo laparoscopic surgery. It is a minimally invasive procedure that starts with a small incision over the affected site. Our surgeons will then insert a scope with a built-in camera, and light at the tip to locate the treatment site, before inserting specialised tools through the scope to remove gallstones.

Lifestyle Changes

• Eating a low-fat diet: pancreatitis patients are encouraged to consume a low-fat diet that is rich in fruits, and vegetables, and boost their water intake to further aggravate pancreatitis.
• Reducing alcohol consumption: since excessive alcohol consumption can exacerbate pancreatitis, it is important that you reduce your alcohol consumption within the recommended range.
• Quitting smoking: smoking has been linked to progressing pancreatitis, and as such, it is imperative that you forego smoking immediately.

Although it is impossible to prevent pancreatitis, there are steps that you can take to lower the risk of developing the disease. Get in touch with us today to discover how the simple act of gut health screening can help protect you against pancreatitis.