The pancreas secrets about 1500-3000mls of fluid per day containing about 20 enzymes. These secretions provide the enzymes needed to affect the major digestive activity of the gastrointestinal tract. If the pancreas is attacked as in pancreatitis enough of these enzymes will not be secreted and there will be problems with digestion and metabolism of food.
These are the ten things you may not know about pancreatitis:
· Pancreatitis (pancreatic inflammatory disease) may be classified as acute (sudden onset type) or chronic (gradual onset type).
· The two most common causes of pancreatitis are excess alcohol intake and gallstones (stones in the gallbladder).
· Any severe acute pain in the abdomen or back may suggest acute pancreatitis
· Pancreatitis may mimic heart burn, heart attack, pneumonia, perforated bowel, intestinal obstruction and diabetic ketoacidosis (a complication of diabetes mellitus).
· Chronic pancreatitis can cause poor absorption of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) leading to vitamin B12 deficiency.
· Perhaps the most common and troublesome complication of chronic pancreatitis is addiction to narcotics as sufferers may need opioids to control the severe abdominal pain associated with pancreatitis.
· The incidence of pancreatic cancer is increased by chronic pancreatitis.
· Pancreatitis may be inherited (the so called hereditary pancreatitis) which is similar to chronic pancreatitis except that it occurs at an early age. These young sufferers have recurring attacks of severe abdominal pain which may last from a few days to a few weeks.
· In some parts of the world severe malnutrition is a common cause of pancreatitis.
· Removal of the gallbladder is almost always performed in sufferers after the first and second attack of gallstone-associated pancreatitis.
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PARKINSON’S DISEASE: Ten things you may not know about it
Parkinson’s disease is also known as ‘Paralysis Agitans’. It is a common disease first described by James Parkinson, an English physician in 1817. Here was his exact account of this disease: ‘Involuntary tremulous motion, with lessened muscular power, in parts not in action and even when supported; with a propensity to bend the trunk forward, and to pass from a walking to a running pace, the senses and intellects being uninjured’.
TENSION HEADACHE: Ten things you may not know about it
Tension headache may occur suddenly under conditions of emotional duress or intense worry and can last for hours or a day or two. More often it persists unremittingly for weeks or months. In fact, this is the only type of headache that exhibits the peculiarity of being absolutely continuous day and night for long periods of time. The most provoking factors are fatigue and nervous strain.
BACK PAIN: Ten things you may not know about it
Back pain (also known as backache) is a very common problem and often goes away on its own; but be alert to dangerous causes such as cancer, infection and inflammation.
