Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ of the digestive system, which secretes enzymes into the small intestines to support the process of digesting and absorbing our food and the nutrients they contain. In 85% of individuals who develop pancreatitis, the major causes are the presence of gallstones and excessive alcohol consumption. A gallstone can injure the pancreas during its passage from the gallbladder into the bile duct. Potential injury to the pancreas by a gallstone is identified as one of the major complications of an individual developing gallstones. Genetics play a role in approximately 15% of all pancreatitis. In children, cystic fibrosis is the main cause of pancreatitis.
Other conditions in the body, such as high levels of fat in the blood (hyperlipidemia) or high levels of calcium (hypercalcemia) in the blood, trauma or surgery to the abdomen, blood vessel disease or genetic mutations can also cause pancreatitis. The main presenting symptoms of acute pancreatitis are generally nausea, vomiting, fever, increased heart rate and upper abdominal pain.
Types of Pancreatitis
There are two types of pancreatitis: acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis, has a sudden onset. After initial medical intervention and post-acute care phase, this form of pancreatitis can be controlled through improvements in lifestyle, diet and behavior. The majority of acute pancreatitis cases do resolve with conservative medical care, although, as reported by Merck, in 5% of mild acute pancreatitis or 10-50% of more aggressive pancreatitis cases, severe complications or even death can occur.
The majority of complications develop in individuals with chronic pancreatitis. According to the National Institutes of Health’s PubMed library, alcohol is the most common cause of chronic pancreatitis, which can lead to kidney damage, diabetes, malnutrition, pancreatic infection, cancer or death.
If You Have Been Diagnosed with Pancreatitis
If you have been diagnosed with acute pancreatitis there are treatments/protocols dependent upon the type and severity of your condition. For acute pancreatitis, you will likely be hospitalized and given intravenous fluids and not take food by mouth for several days. This is to reduce the pain and allow your pancreas to heal. You will likely be prescribed medications for pain. If a gallstone is causing the condition, it will be removed by a minimally invasive procedure, ERCP, to eliminate the cause of the pancreatitis. The use of non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs may be used to prevent a post-ERCP recurrence.
If you are experiencing chronic pancreatitis, the acute phase will be treated with the same acute pancreatitis protocol. However, the condition of chronic pancreatitis is a serious and potentially life threatening condition that requires on going attention for the pain of the condition, as well as avoiding alcohol, committing to a low-fat diet and possibly taking enzymes or pain killers to rest and heal the pancreas.
Sufferers of chronic pancreatitis may need a procedure to widen the pancreatic duct for removal of a gallstone, pseudo cyst, tissue removal or obstructed pancreatic duct. Complications of this chronic condition can include blood vessel blockage, blockage of the small intestines or bile duct, fluid buildup, and increase the patients risk for pancreatic cancer.
A Whole Health Perspective
Looking at Pancreatitis
through a Whole Health model, we explore the individual’s unique presentation
from the 5
Aspects of Whole Health™ perspective.
1. Physically – The pancreas is an endocrine
organ relating to hormonal activated glucose regulation as well as enzyme
delivery, to the small intestine, for digestion and nutrient absorption. The
pancreas has a synergistic and antagonist relationship with the other endocrine
glands in the body. Its function is affected by the hormonal secretions of the
other glands. The adrenal glands, the stress adaptation and survival endocrine
glands, greatly impact the function of the pancreas, as stress adaptation
requires significantly increased pancreatic function for a prolonged period of
time. Chronic or prolonged
stress can trigger pancreatitis.
Medical
pain relief options include analgesics, tricyclic anti-depressants,
pancreatic enzyme support, stents, celiac plexus nerve block, surgery. Traditional
Chinese Medicine is recommended by Integrative
Medicine experts for reducing pain, increasing healing and supporting the
pancreas and digestive system. Homeopathic
Medicine is also an option for prevention of flare ups and cellular
healing.
Physical aspects also
include the quality and amount of SLEEP – which is critical for the healing
process in acute pancreatitis – through immune system activities during sleep.
The immune
system’s T cells and pro-inflammatory
cytokines exhibit peak during early nocturnal sleep.
2. Chemically/Nutritionally – The foods we ingest act not only as nutrients but also as chemicals in our bodies. These chemicals impact our organ functions and our systemically body chemistry that can produce either wellness or illness. Pancreatitis is a condition that is directly affected by the nutrient food chemical we ingest. The established medical advice regarding nutrition for acute or chronic pancreatitis is to eat a low fat diet, no more than 20 grams per day, abstain from alcohol and stay hydrated, to reduce or prevent the onset of pain. Clinically, there is an international consensus on the gold standard of treating acute pancreatitis nutritionally.
Integrative health experts recommend if/when pain returns, take in only clear liquids, juice or gelatins, drinking lots of water, to reduce the work of the pancreas to produce enzymes and hormones for digestion and assimilation. Avoid food and beverages that can trigger pain, especially alcohol, caffeine, spicy or fatty foods. When pain is not present the use of anti-inflammatory herbs or supplements like Vitamin C, Essential Fatty Acids, licorice, Gooseberry, turmeric, fresh ginger; or foods that aid digestion such as dandelion, artichoke, fennel and dill are both preventative and healing.
3. Emotional – The adrenal glands, the emotional and stress adaptation system of the body, are major players in the maintenance of stress reduction. The Adrenal glands receive emotional messages through neurotransmitters (proteins) and communicate with our organs and tissues. Chronic emotional stress (work stress, family life stress, financial stress, environmental stress, etc.) can lead to pancreatitis, therefore it is a good choice, if you do experience pancreatitis, to address your stress levels in all areas of your life and identify a stress reducer that works for you. The diagnosis of pancreatitis can also lead to emotional stressors, fear and concerns that are best addressed with counseling.
4. Environmental – The impact of environment of pancreatitis has been well demonstrated. The pancreas can be damaged directly by toxic chemicals in our personal environment (drugs, alcohol, tobacco, poor nutrition, etc.), as well as our general living environment (air pollution, electromagnetic field radiation, food pesticides, water pollution, etc.) The best established and single most important risk factor for pancreatitis and
preventing pancreatic cancer is to clearly avoid is tobacco smoke.
5. Beliefs, Values and Worldview – also identified as Spirituality – Our values and beliefs impact how we behave and life our lives. Georgetown University School of Medicine, and the work of Rachael Naomi Ramen, MD, a renown integrative health researcher and physician, suggest that our relationship with ourselves and others – our worldview – is an essential component if our health and well-being, or a contributor to our illnesses.
A wide range of spiritual practices such as praying, and its many forms – meditation, visualization, yoga, fasting, silent retreats, and others, have been utilized to heal all forms of disease and afflictions, and in other cultures is a part of the medical healing process.
To find a physician with expertise with
pancreatitis, contact the National
Pancreas Foundation, or seek a referral for a Board Certified
Gastroenterologist near you.