| The pancreas is an organ located immediately adjacent to the first part of the small intestine or duodenum (see Figure 3). Its main function is to secrete digestive enzymes into the small intestine in order to help digest carbohydrates, protein and fat. It also secreted bicarbonate and water that neutralize the acid mixed with the food delivered into the duodenum from the stomach.
PANCREAS DISORDERS
Pancreatitis, Inflammation of the Pancreas, Acute Pancreatitis
A condition is which the cells of the pancreas become inflamed. The most common causes of pancreatitis in the United States are alcohol ingestion and gallbladder disease with gallstones. Also, people with very high triglyceride levels (fat) in the blood stream may develop pancreatitis, and patients taking certain medications occasionally develop pancreatitis. The medications most commonly causing pancreatitis are birth control pills, estrogens, and steroids (i.e., prednisone or cortisone). For patients with alcohol induced acute pancreatitis, the treatment is to stop alcohol consumption. If continued alcohol consumption occurs, the patient may develop chronic pancreatitis. Both conditions are associated with upper abdominal pain (sometimes radiating straight through into the back), nausea, vomiting and weight loss. In chronic pancreatitis, the function of the pancreas may be destroyed. When this is the case, a person will no longer be able to digest and absorb nutrients sufficiently because of the inadequate production of digestive enzymes. As a result, abdominal cramps, gas and diarrhea will develop along with a profound weight loss. This condition can be corrected by the ingestion of pancreatic enzymes with meals.
Cancer of the Pancreas
The growth of abnormal cells which are no longer under control of the body. The cause of cancer of the pancreas is not known. Unfortunately, once diagnosed, the disease has usually progressed to the point that surgery is no longer successful in removing all of the cancer. One exception is when the cancer develops in the area of the bile duct where it empties into the small intestine. If the tumor, early in its development, causes obstruction of the bile duct and the person becomes jaundiced (yellow color of the eyes and skin), he may seek medical attention early and the tumor may be completely removed with surgery. A frequent symptom is vague abdominal discomfort often with the pain radiating into the back that may be worse after meals.
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