When the pancreas releases glucagon and insulin, it is referred to as an endocrine gland. It is called an exocrine gland whenever it releases sodium bicarbonate and the digestive enzymes. The term pancreatitis refers to the inflammation of the pancreas, a medical condition which can be either acute or chronic. Activated digestive enzymes can lead to this condition. Their activation can be the result of various causes, but a sudden change in diet is not one of them.
Pancreas
The pancreas is an organ that secretes the hormones glucagon and insulin as well as the digestive enzymes. Glucagon is released into the bloodstream when the glucose level in the bloodstream is getting low, while insulin is released when the blood glucose level is getting high. The digestive enzymes are proteins that help break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats. If the enzymes become active and stay inside the pancreas, they can digest the pancreatic tissue, as explained in “Gastrointestinal Physiology” by Kim Barrett, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at the University of California School of Medicine.
Causes of Acute Pancreatitis
The digestive enzymes normally leave the pancreas to enter the small intestines through the pancreatic duct. Active digestive enzymes can remain inside of the pancreas if a gallstone or tumor is blocking this duct. This can lead to acute pancreatitis, or the sudden inflammation of the pancreas. The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is gallstones, according to Norton Greenberger, M.D., Clinical Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in “Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine.” Other causes include alcoholism, abdominal trauma, a high level of triglycerides in the bloodstream, estrogen, cystic fibrosis, valproic acid, anti-seizure medication, and tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotics. A sudden change in diet does not cause acute pancreatitis.
Causes of Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis describes a pancreatitis that lasts for a long period of time and does not get any better. In fact, the damage to the pancreas in chronic pancreatitis is usually permanent. The main reason for this type of pancreatitis, per the National Institutes of Health, is years of alcoholism. It can also be caused by a high level of triglycerides or lipids in the bloodstream, a high amount of calcium in the bloodstream, repeated attacks of acute pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, steroids, estrogen, hydrochloride diuretic, a hereditary abnormality of the pancreas and autoimmune diseases as Sjogren's syndrome and scleroderma. Chronic pancreatitis is not the result of a sudden change in diet.
Symptoms
As explained by the Mayo Clinic, your symptoms will depend upon whether you have acute or chronic pancreatitis. If you have acute pancreatitis, then you may experience nausea and vomiting and pain in your upper abdomen that will be worse after you finish eating and will probably extend all the way to your back. On the other hand, if you have chronic pancreatitis, then you will have pain in your upper abdomen, but you may also have fatty, foul-smelling bowel movements. This is not due to a sudden change of diet but because the lipase digestive enzyme can no longer break down fats so the fats are lost in your stool.
References
- “Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endoscopy”; N. Greenberger, M.D.; 2009
- “Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2011”; Stephen McPhee, M.D., Maxine Papadakis, M.D.; 2011
- “Gastrointestinal Physiology”; Kim Barrett, Ph.D.; 2006
- “Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine”; Dan Longo, M.D., Dennis Kasper, M.D. et al.; 2012
- Mayo Clinic: Pancreatitis
- National Institutes of Health: Pancreatitis
