It must be agreed that bad habits seriously disrupt the functioning of all internal organs. Addictions hit the pancreas the hardest. A harmful lifestyle leads to its inflammation. In the language of doctors, this disease is called pancreatitis. The patient has a whole range of unpleasant sensations, such as nausea, vomiting. But the most unpleasant manifestations that accompany pancreatitis are attacks of pain. How to treat pathology? And what can you do at home?
Characteristics of pathology
The pancreas is an important internal organ that allows you to properly absorb the food that enters the human body. It secretes many hormones and enzymes, including insulin and glucagon.
The inflammatory process that occurs in the pancreas is called pancreatitis. Stagnation of enzymes in the body leads to swelling and irritation. This phenomenon may occur suddenly, but may drag on for years.
This pathology is described by historyillness. Pancreatitis, according to the course, can be acute or chronic. However, in any case, such a disease leads to the gradual destruction of an important organ for the digestive system.
Main causes of pathology
Initially, consider what sources lead to the development of such a disease as pancreatitis. Attacks, as a rule, occur when these factors are exacerbated. But, unfortunately, it is not always possible to determine the causes that lead to pathology in which the pancreas practically digests itself.
Doctors list the following factors as a result of which pancreatitis is most often diagnosed:
- Wrong diet. The abuse of junk food (spicy, fatty, fried) can provoke an attack of pancreatitis. What to do in this case? Refuse malnutrition and consult about the diet. Fatty foods are extremely poorly absorbed by the body. As a result, there is a violation of the outflow of pancreatic juice. At the same time, its composition changes. Such factors provoke nausea, pain.
- Injury to the pancreas. Organ damage can be caused by a strong blow to the abdomen, a car accident, a fall from a height, a knife or gunshot wound. Sometimes this situation requires surgical intervention.
- Taking certain medications. Certain drugs can have a rather negative effect on the functioning of the pancreas. Antibiotics, immunosuppressants, corticosteroids are quite easily able to provoke an attack of pancreatitis. What should the patient do? Refusegiven medications and diet.
- Alcohol abuse. Alcohol-containing drinks have an extremely negative effect on most organs. The pancreas is no exception. The same picture is observed as with malnutrition. The outflow of pancreatic juice is seriously disturbed in the body, as a result of which the disease develops.
- Malnutrition. In this case, we mean protein foods. If the body regularly suffers from a deficiency of these substances, a person begins to develop pancreatitis.
- Stones. The increment, moving along the biliary tract, contributes to the violation of the outflow of juice and provokes swelling of the organ. As a result, the patient experiences nausea, vomiting, pain, dizziness.
- Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Sometimes various diseases can provoke an unpleasant attack.
Seizure symptoms
With this pathology, patients notice quite characteristic signs. Almost every medical history contains such symptoms. Pancreatitis is manifested by severe pain. This discomfort can last for hours.
Pancreatitis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Abdominal pain. The most basic and common symptom. It manifests itself in almost 80-95% of patients. The pain can be constant or recurrent, burning or aching, spasmodic or sharp. Discomfort is localized in the upper left abdomen and in the epigastric region. This is how acute pancreatitis manifests itself. Attacks most often intensify after eating food (after 20-30 minutes). largestthe patient experiences discomfort after taking fried, fatty, spicy, smoked foods or drinking alcohol. The pain can spread to the back, left collarbone, shoulder blades, arms. Very often, the discomfort is girdle in nature. When fasting, these symptoms are significantly reduced. The forced posture also helps to reduce discomfort: it is easier for the patient to endure pain while sitting, leaning forward slightly.
- Diarrhea. This symptom is observed in half of the patients. The stool has an unpleasant odor, has an unformed consistency. There are undigested fats in the stool.
- Weight loss. A fairly common symptom. May characterize attacks of chronic pancreatitis. As a rule, it is observed in the last stages of the disease.
- Nausea, vomiting. Such symptoms do not bring relief to the patient. At the same time, combined with diarrhea, it seriously dehydrates the body. The elasticity of the skin decreases, the integument becomes very dry. There is a sharpening of facial features.
- Obturation of the bile duct. "Red droplets" appear on the surface of the abdomen, chest. After pressing, they do not disappear. Sometimes there is yellowness of the mucous membranes and skin as a result of compression of the duct by a swollen gland.
- Fever, chills, shortness of breath. Such symptoms indicate an inflammatory process in the body. In this case, it is necessary to immediately begin adequate treatment. Any delay can lead to quite serious complications.
After a series of similar attacksthe disease becomes chronic. In this case, the patient periodically experiences all the symptoms characteristic of pancreatitis. But the most unpleasant thing is the gradual destruction of the organ.
First Aid
Adequate therapy is prescribed only by a doctor. Self-medication, especially without knowing the true diagnosis, is extremely dangerous. At the same time, remember that severe discomfort in the abdomen should never be tolerated and drowned out with analgesics. Even if you know how to relieve an attack of pancreatitis at home, it is imperative to be examined. This will protect against the development of extremely unpleasant complications.
If you experience abdominal discomfort, you should seek help from a gastroenterologist. If the patient experiences sharp "twisting" pain, an ambulance should be called immediately. However, while the medical team is on the way, it is possible to alleviate the situation of a patient experiencing an attack of pancreatitis.
First aid includes the following recommendations:
- Taking antispasmodics. Such drugs can relieve spasm. This ensures the outflow of pancreatic juice into the intestinal lumen. In this case, it is recommended to use not tablets, but intramuscular injections. They will work much more efficiently and faster. The most effective drug is No-shpa.
- Drugs that improve digestion. The patient is recommended to drink enzymatic preparations: "Festal", "Mezim", "Pancreatin". These remedies help improve digestion and can relieve pain.
- Cold on the stomach. This procedure will greatly facilitate the patient's condition. However, do not use ice cold. In this case, instead of alleviating, you can make the problem worse. It is advisable to use a heating pad filled with cold water, or ice wrapped in a bag and cloth. This event will not so much relieve pain discomfort as relieve inflammation.
Doctors, explaining how to relieve an attack of pancreatitis, especially insist on the exclusion of any food. The patient only needs to drink. In this case, it is most advisable to give ordinary clean water or mineral water without gas.
Home Treatment
In severe cases, the patient will require hospitalization. But sometimes, after a thorough examination, the doctor prescribes the appropriate treatment for the patient and does not take him to the hospital. In this case, it is extremely important for people who are near the patient to know how to relieve an attack of pancreatitis at home. It is desirable that the drug "No-shpa" and enzymatic drugs are always at hand.
Sufficiently simple recommendations allow avoiding repeated attacks:
- Hunger. The digestive tract must be completely unloaded. In this case, the iron will stop producing enzymes that harm it. Therefore, patients during the first few days are allowed to consume only water, tea and crackers.
- Cold. Warming the pancreas is strictly prohibited. Such a procedure will lead to increased inflammation and will contribute to the destruction of the pancreas by its own hormones. Remember: the left hypochondrium "chooses" the cold! Therefore, for the areapancreas should be applied with an ice pack.
- Peace. Pathology can very easily lead to the development of severe consequences. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend that you unload the entire body as much as possible. Patients are advised to stay in bed until the symptoms of acute pancreatitis are completely gone.
Complications of the disease
What is the danger of pancreatitis? Attacks do not go away without a trace and very often lead to unpleasant complications.
These include:
- infection;
- cyst;
- necrosis of gland tissue.
In case of critical disorders, the patient will need surgery. After surgery, the patient is often given insulin to control blood glucose levels. In addition, special medications containing enzymes are recommended that ensure the normal digestion of fats and proteins.
No less important is dietary nutrition, which, in case of chronic pathology, the patient will have to observe all his life. And completely give up any alcohol.
Chronic pancreatitis can cause the following complications:
- blockage of blood vessels;
- accumulation of fluid in the region of the gland;
- periodic bouts of pain;
- blockage of the small intestine and bile ducts;
- risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Nutrition after an acute attack
Diet 5 recommended for patients with pancreatitis. However, after suffering an acuteattack for several days, you should generally exclude food.
Dietitians recommend following these guidelines:
- 2-4 days the patient is generally forbidden to take food. It is recommended to use only mineral medicinal waters, such as "Borjomi", "Essentuki No. 4". You should drink in small quantities in small sips.
- 5th day. Very carefully allowed to expand the menu. In this case, you should know that the patient is prescribed a table for pancreatitis No. 5P.
- 6-7 days. The diet includes slimy soups, jelly, liquid cereals, kefir, steam cutlets from beef, chicken and fish. Allowed: mashed potatoes, vegetables. All dishes for pancreatitis should be stewed or boiled. The patient can use weak tea, pureed apples, cookies, rosehip broth.
Diet 5
This pathology has one unattractive name - prediabetes. Unfortunately, if we are talking about chronic pancreatitis, the chances of developing such a serious disease are high. To avoid the occurrence of diabetes, patients are prescribed diet number 5 for pancreatitis. This diet should be followed throughout life.
The basics of nutrition are the following foods:
- milk, kefir, mild cheese, curdled milk, non-acidic cottage cheese;
- pasta, cereals (rice, oats, buckwheat);
- vegetables (beets, zucchini, carrots, pumpkin, potatoes);
- white stale bread, wheat crackers;
- lean fish;
- meat (turkey,rabbit, chicken, veal);
- fruit jelly, baked apples, berry sauce;
- oat decoctions, fruit drink, chamomile tea, non-acidic fruit juices;
- mashed soups, vegetable broths.
From the diet should be excluded:
- fresh cabbage, sour fruits, legumes;
- sorrel, radish, spinach, radish;
- fresh bread, sweets, muffins;
- spices and hot spices;
- canned food, smoked meats, sausages, eggs;
- fish, meat broths, borscht, cabbage soup;
- sweet soda, alcohol;
- ice cream, cream, sour cream;
- fried food.
This diet involves eating about 6 meals a day, in small portions. This will avoid the risk of overeating.
Patient opinions
Surprisingly, with this pathology, all patients recommend one thing: contact a gastroenterologist and not delay treatment! What do patients diagnosed with pancreatitis testify to? Patients' testimonials tell of a significant improvement in well-being after the drug therapy prescribed by the doctor and following the prescribed diet.
Most patients claim that after long-term treatment they were even able to return to their normal diet. And at the same time they no longer experience the characteristic painful symptoms.
Conclusion
History gives more than one example when even incurable diseases were completely eliminated. Therefore, arm yourself with patience, willpower and fully follow all the doctor's prescriptions. he althgood luck to you!
