The pancreas is a large organ located behind your stomach that produces digestive juices to break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates. It also secretes insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. According to the Cedars-Sinai Hospital, the two main problems that affect the pancreas are pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, both of which can cause swelling. Running and other forms of exercise may help prevent both of these conditions. Consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment advice.
Gall Stones
The Cedars-Sinai Hospital states that the most common cause of acute pancreatitis is gall stones, which get caught in the bile duct on their way to the small intestine. Blockage of this opening forces pancreatic juices to back up, causing inflammation and swelling of the pancreas. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse cites studies showing that being even a little overweight promotes gall stones. Running as part of a program to lose weight and keep it off can help prevent gall stones and pancreatitis.
Triglycerides
High triglyceride levels in the blood are another cause of pancreatitis, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. To reduce triglycerides, the American Heart Association recommends a 10 percent reduction in body weight. The AHA's 2011 statement based on evaluation of more than 500 international studies conducted during the last 30 years says that exercising 150 minutes per week will reduce triglyceride levels by 20 percent to 30 percent.
Pancreatic Cancer
Exercise can help prevent chronic pancreatitis, which is a risk factor for diabetes and pancreatic cancer, according to the Pancreatic Research Center at Johns Hopkins University. In addition, Johns Hopkins states that diabetics have a higher risk of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Exercise can help reduce the severity of type 2 diabetes by promoting weight loss and improving the efficiency of insulin, possibly reducing cancer risk. However, the Cedars-Sinai website disagrees, stating that there is no known link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer.
Smoking
People who smoke have double the risk of pancreatic cancer and are diagnosed at younger ages than are nonsmokers, according to Johns Hopkins University. If they quit smoking, their risk of developing pancreatic cancer becomes nearly normal. While quitting can be difficult, exercise can help. A 1999 study of 281 women evaluated the effectiveness of a combination of exercise and health education on smoking cessation. Results showed the exercise group had a significantly higher level of smoking cessation than the controls. Consult your doctor for advice.
References
- Cedars-Sinai: Frequently Asked Questions About Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Pancreatitis
- Theheart.org; Diet and Exercise Key for Treating High Triglycerides: New AHA statement; Michael O'Riordan; 2011
- Johns Hopkins Medicine: The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center; What Causes Pancreatic Cancer?
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; The Efficacy of Exercise as an Aid for Smoking Cessation in Women; B.H. Marcus, et al.; 1999
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Gallstones; 2007
Member Comments