What is pancreatitis?
Pancreatic damage takes place when the digestive enzymes start working before they are released into the small intestine and begin striking the pancreas in which case the pancreas becomes inflamed. And the disease is known as pancreatitis. There exist two types of pancreatitis namely acute and chronic.
In the case of acute pancreatitis, the inflammation is sudden, which stays for a short period, whereas in chronic one, the inflammation of the pancreas is a long-lasting effect. The acute disorder may span from mild discomfort to severe life-threatening disease, whereas chronic pancreatitis has a long-term inflammation mostly caused due to heavy alcohol drinking.
Here are a few Warning signs of pancreatitis.
- Pain in the uppermost abdomen
- The flow of abdominal pain to the back
- The pain feels even worse after consuming food
- Reduction in appetite
- Sweating
- Bloating, oily stool, vomiting
- Fever
- Softness when touching the abdomen.
- High pulse rate
- Fever
What triggers pancreatitis?
Drinking too much alcohol and smoking cigarettes rank among the number one causes for pancreatitis. The second in the list are stones formed in the gall bladder, which are also known as gallstones. Certain medications which react with the pancreas resulting in its inflammation or abdominal surgery, or some instances having a gastric surgery may also cause pancreatitis. Other than that having high calcium levels in the blood may also result in pancreatitis.
However, many reported cases have shown that pancreatitis can also occur to people even when they are free of all the drinking and smoking habits. It can happen to a person who has never undergone any form of surgery but has a history of pancreatitis in their family as a result of which the individual inherited it.
The complication caused by pancreatitis
Pseudocyst: Acute pancreatitis can cause liquid particles to collect in cyst like pockets within the pancreas. Once a large Pseudocyst ruptures, it can cause internal bleeding and infection.
Infection: Acute pancreatitis can weaken the pancreas, exposing it to vulnerable bacteria and virus. Pancreatic contagions can be severe conditions and require concentrated treatment like surgery to eliminate the infected tissues.
Kidney failure: Acute pancreatitis can also result in kidney failure, which has to be treated with dialysis when kidney failure is dire.
Breathing problems: Acute pancreatitis can deploy chemical changes in the body, which will affect in the way the lungs function instigating a dangerous fall in oxygen level in the blood.
Malnutrition: Malnutrition can be a result of both acute as well as chronic pancreatitis. It creates a deficiency in the number of enzymes produced which are necessary for breaking down and processing the nutrients from the food a person eats.
Pancreatic cancer: The extended inflammation of the pancreas is a condition that can eventually develop into pancreatic cancer. The chronic type of pancreatic disorder causes it. Gradually it can turn into a severe health problem.
The treatment procedure for pancreatitis
Fasting: The patient will have to stop eating for a few days to allow the pancreas to heal. Once the condition is under control, the patient may start drinking clear fluids and stay on a bland diet. While on a diet, the patient strictly needs to avoid any fried or fatty food, strong cheese, and whole grains.
In cases when the patient experiences pain after eating, even in a controlled situation, the doctor may recommend using a feeding tube to help the patient get nutrition.
Pain medications: High levels of pain can be a result of pancreatitis in which case the doctor may suggest using drugs to control or nullify the pain. Pain tracker can prove to be helpful in managing the disease.
Intravenous fluids: An individual may become dehydrated since the body contributes energy and fluids for the repairment of the pancreas. Due to this reason, the individual will be given extra fluids through a vein in the arms during the period for which he remains hospitalized.
Surgery to remove bile duct obstructions: Pancreatic issues caused by a blocked bile duct may require operations to eliminate or widen the bile duct.
Gallbladder surgery: In some instances, pancreatitis is after effect of gallstones; in such cases, the doctor may recommend operating to remove the gallstone.
Pancreas surgery: In certain cases, surgery needs to be done to drain the fluid from the pancreas or remove the diseased tissue.
Treatment for alcohol dependence: Heavy drinking of alcohol is a significant cause of pancreatitis. In such cases, the doctor recommends a treatment program to remove alcohol addiction. Some alternative therapies like meditation, relaxing therapies, yoga, and acupuncture can also help in healing the pancreas. However, before visiting the doctor, it is better to make a note of the symptoms that the individual is experiencing. It is also advised to jot down the questions that can be put forth to the doctor.
What is treatment tracker, and how does it help in dealing with pancreatitis?
Treatment Tracker is an application released by care clinic which allows a person to locate the number of services performed by the physician. It displays several things once the app has information regarding the state, rank, and specialty of that physician. It also contains the record of total and average payments by Medicare and the overall performance of the physician. And a detailed description by patients who have visited and taken treatments from that physician.
Treatment tracker that provides a helping hand in managing any chronic conditions or symptoms which one might be going through. The treatment tracker helps in kick-starting the daily medications by setting reminders as to when to consume the medicines.
Treatment tracker can track multiple diseases like diabetes, hypertension, pancreatitis, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, and many more. Then, in turn, it helps patients to keep a check on their illnesses as well as their medications. With treatment tracker, patients can get monthly, weekly, and daily view of what patients have done and need to do with their health.
Treatment tracker also notifies its user with prior warning of specific effects their current plan might be having. It has a variety of features ranging from refill reminders and medical reference library to support 24*7 and even advanced connectivity with other platforms. The application comes with the ability to import or export data from the mobile phone of a person, smart AI insights, premium plans, and many more features. App proves to be handy for a person to keep a close watch on medications, their effects, and the progress in terms of health.
