Symptoms of pancreas problems
Inflammation of the pancreas is known as pancreatitis and can often come on suddenly without any prior warning. One of the first signs is that your stomach feels extremely tender and may even become swollen. Often this is followed by nausea and vomiting. You may also notice that you are running a high fever however this is usually a sign that your body is actually trying to heal itself. A much more specific symptom of pancreatitis and many pancreas problems is a pain that forms in the upper abdomen, but also radiates to the back. You will find that this pain is typically extremely severe and can be made worse by eating. If you are someone who is suffering from acute pancreatitis, you are likely to look very unwell.
There are a variety of factors that can lead to pancreas problems and these include gallstones. If the problem is in fact gallstones you will also experience related symptoms. This will include gall bladder pain, which is most commonly felt in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. This pain, once again, may extend to the back, most notably between your shoulder blades. The majority of pancreas problems and especially pancreatitis can be a chronic condition. You will additionally notice further symptoms that are caused by your pancreas not functioning correctly. One of the most common symptoms of chronic pancreatitis is weight loss.
In order to digests food your pancreas will need to produce enzymes. However by producing insufficient enzymes you may well experience weight loss, which is in effect a symptom of pancreas problems. Unfortunately many people may damage the insulin secreting cells of their pancreas which can then lead to diabetes. Although it may take a fair bit of time for cells to actually be affected, if you are suffering symptoms of diabetes this would actually suggest that you have entered the advanced stages of chronic pancreatitis.
One of the main causes of diabetes mellitus is a severe lack of insulin. We are now aware that insulin is a specific hormone that is produced by the pancreas. Unfortunately for many people these insulin producing cells will actually stop and die off, and all for no apparent reason. For some people their pancreas will actually produce enough quantities of insulin, but unfortunately the body appears unable to use this insulin. In either case this is actually because the body is unable to process glucose and this may eventually lead to diabetes. One of the most common first signs of diabetes will be an increased thirst. You will then notice that you need to urinate far more frequently. Further symptoms may include weight loss, fatigue, mood changes, an increased appetite and often abdominal pain.
Another potential problem can be pancreatic cysts. You will experience some of the same symptoms as with pancreatitis such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. You may additionally feel as though you have something lodged in your upper abdomen which will actually suggest that you have pancreatic cysts. While weight loss is an obvious symptom of chronic pancreatitis, it can often also be a sign of a pancreatic enzyme deficiency. This is more than likely to be the case if you are suffering from diarrhoea as well as many of the other symptoms. Pancreatic cancer is yet another problem that many people are faced with. This is usually accompanied by a dull pain in the upper abdomen and you may also experience jaundice. You will find that this will lead to a decreased appetite, weight loss and more than likely, depression.
It is important that you report any severe pains, vomiting or fever to your doctor. Your doctor will typically ask you to rate the amount of pain that you feel you are experiencing and from this information your doctor will know exactly what areas of your stomach will need to be checked. It is important that you discuss every single symptom with your doctor as many people have been misdiagnosed due to providing insufficient information. You can actually ask to be tested if you feel that you have a serious pancreas problem. You may then need to take either an ultrasound or abdominal CT which is able to detect any potential problems with your pancreas.
Pancreas problems need to be taken very seriously and some of the affects to your health can be extremely dangerous. Often if a person with pancreas symptoms such as weight loss can eat a full meal and none of the nutrients will actually pass through the body. It is now known that if the pancreas is not producing enough enzymes to break down food, you can literally starve to death within a matter of weeks.
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