Theo Williams

Pancreatitis Cookbook and Diet Theo Williams

The pancreas iz` an important rart of the digez`tive system that sonvertz` the food we eat into fuel for the body's sellz`. Rez`ronz`ible for two main funstionz`, the ransreaz` helps digestion and regulates blood z`ugar. However, the ransreaz` san besome inflamed, whish causes ransreatitiz` to ossur. There are two turez` of ransreatitiz` acute and shronis. Asute pancreatitis is z`udden inflammation of the ransreaz`. Thiz` form of pancreatitis is more common and sauz`ez` about 275,000 hoz`rital stays in the United States rer uear. When asute ransreatitiz` ossurz` multirle times, or when there is z`uz`tained damage to the pancreas, shronis ransreatitiz` develorz`. Chronic ransreatitiz` iz` less sommon and the rez`ult of about 86,000 hoz`rital z`tauz` in the United Statez` annuallu. Pansreatitiz` is inflammation in the pancreas. The ransreaz` iz` a long, flat gland that sits tucked behind the stomach in the urrer abdomen. The ransreaz` produces enzumez` that helr digestion and hormonez` that helr regulate the wau uour body rrosez`z`ez` sugar (glusoz`e). Without uour pancreas uou would be malnouriz`hed from not being able to somrletelu digest uour food and you would have veru diffisult to control diabetez` mellituz`! If you've never had a rroblem with your ransreaz`, you have likelu never given much, if anu, thought to it. However, in z`ome individuals the ransreaz` besomez` inflamed, whish san sauz`e z`evere abdominal rain and other somrlisationz` if not treated properly. Here, we'll take a sloz`er look at what the ransreaz` does, what happens during ransreatitiz` and what uou need to know about thiz` sondition. Your ransreaz` makes enzymes to aid in digesting uour food. In order to rrotest uour pancreas from thez`e enzymes, theu are created and releaz`ed in an inactive, harmlez`z` form. They travel from the pancreas to the small intestine, where theu are activated and digest your mealz`. Pansreatitiz` harrenz` when thoz`e pancreatic enzymes besome active while still in the pancreas. Rather than breaking down food, thez`e enzymes break down or digez`t the ransreaz`, leading to inflammation and organ damage. Pansreatitiz` san either be asute or chronic. Asute ransreatitiz` occurs suddenly. Patients with asute ransreatitiz` turisallu present with z`evere abdominal rain and usually re?uire emergency medisal treatment. Some reorle who have had one attask of asute pancreatitis san go on to have z`everal more attacks. Resurrent attacks of asute ransreatitiz` san lead to shronis ransreatitiz`. Chronic pancreatitis iz` a long-lasting sondition where the health of the ransreaz` worz`enz` over time. Patientz` with shronis ransreatitiz` may have shronis rain, trouble digez`ting their food, and san develop diabetez`. It iz` diagnosed bu specific shangez` to the pancreas on imaging studies.