A high-fat diet, alcohol abuse, smoking, and taking medications without prescription increase the risk of acute pancreatitis.
The pancreas is an organ located in the upper layer of the abdomen, near the stomach and liver, with the function of producing digestive juices, hormones such as insulin, glucagon, helping to regulate blood sugar levels. Most cases of pancreatitis detected early can heal on their own with lifestyle adjustments. Symptoms often include sudden, severe abdominal pain, pain that radiates to the back and is relieved when bending forward, nausea, fever, sweating…
Dr. Vu Truong Khanh, Head of the Department of Gastroenterology, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi, said that common causes of pancreatitis are drinking too much alcohol, gallstones, and increased triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood). Some other less common causes include autoimmune pancreatitis, hypercalcemia, genetic disorders, pancreatic surgery, etc. The following habits are also risk factors for this disease.
Eat lots of fat
When you eat a lot of fat, your blood triglyceride levels increase. Triglycerides damage pancreatic cells, leading to acute pancreatitis. Fat also increases the risk of gallstones forming, which can block the pancreatic duct, blocking the flow of pancreatic juice, causing acute pancreatitis. Fat can damage pancreatic cells, especially in people with a history of pancreatic disease or metabolic problems.
Fatty pork rinds. Photo: Mr. Chi
Drink a lot of alcohol
Pancreatic cells are damaged by free radicals and other toxic byproducts of alcohol metabolism. Alcohol causes precipitation and increases the viscosity of pancreatic secretions, stimulates the development of protein plugs in the small pancreatic ducts, thereby forming stones causing progressive inflammation and fibrosis.
Alcohol damages pancreatic follicular cells, reduces digestive enzymes, loses the ability to digest and absorb fat, and fat accumulation over time leads to pancreatitis. Common symptoms of acute pancreatitis caused by alcohol are vomiting, severe abdominal pain, and pain in the upper abdomen.
Taking medication without prescription
Some drugs such as enzyme inhibitors used to treat high blood pressure, diuretics, lipid-lowering drugs, anticonvulsants, antibiotics… have side effects that cause pancreatitis, according to Dr. Khanh. To reduce the risk of pancreatitis related to taking medication, patients should take it as prescribed by their doctor and not combine multiple medications on their own. Patients should inform their doctor about the medications they are taking before the doctor prescribes a prescription to avoid drug interactions.
Smoke
According to Dr. Khanh, smoking causes damage to pancreatic cells due to nicotine and some ingredients in cigarettes such as nitrosamine – (methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) causing acute pancreatitis. The risk depends on the amount, duration of smoking and changes in smoking habits. People who smoke and drink a lot of alcohol have twice the risk of pancreatitis. Smoking is a factor leading to many diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, lipid disorders, gallstones, chronic pancreatitis… To reduce the risk of acute pancreatitis, you should stop smoking, maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat a balanced diet, and exercise regularly.
Sedentary
Lack of exercise can easily lead to metabolic diseases including obesity, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. According to Dr. Khanh, lack of exercise has also been shown to increase the risk of gallstones, while gallstones are the cause of acute pancreatitis due to increased blood triglycerides and metabolic disorders. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and a scientific diet help control weight, reduce triglyceride levels, improve metabolic function, and reduce the risk of disease.
The doctor may order a blood test or CT scan or MRI scan to diagnose acute pancreatitis. The doctor will perform an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This procedure involves inserting a flexible tube through the mouth into the intestine to remove common bile duct stones and treat the cause of acute pancreatitis caused by stones. The patient needs to be hospitalized for monitoring and appropriate treatment. Acute pancreatitis can improve after about a week if there are no serious complications.