Pancreatic Health: 5 Warning Signs You Should Never Overlook

The pancreas, located in the abdomen, is a glandular organ responsible for both digestive and hormonal roles.

Pancreatic disorders encompass a variety of conditions, including acute and chronic pancreatitis, fatty pancreas, pancreatic cancer, and pancreatic endocrine insufficiency (resulting in reduced insulin production and pancreatic diabetes), as well as pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (causing a decrease in digestive enzymes and leading to chronic diarrhea).

Indicators of chronic pancreatitis consist of persistent, nagging pain in the upper abdomen that frequently radiates to the upper back, reduced appetite, weight loss, and chronic diarrhea characterized by fatty globules in the stool. This results in stools that appear oily, are sticky, float in water, are difficult to flush, and are often accompanied by recurrent episodes of severe and unrelenting pain.

Patients with acute pancreatitis experience intense upper abdominal pain that radiates to the back, typically reaching its peak within 30 minutes to an hour. This may be accompanied by abdominal distension, fever, shortness of breath, and, in some cases, low blood pressure, sepsis, or renal failure. As a result, it can pose a life-threatening risk and must not be underestimated; the patient should be promptly taken to a well-equipped hospital. Acute pancreatitis typically arises following heavy alcohol consumption or when a gallstone migrates from the gallbladder into the bile duct and obstructs the pancreatic duct opening.

Pancreatic cancer may either present no symptoms or have signs that are difficult to detect.

Possible signs of pancreatic cancer include:

• Your skin or the whites of your eyes may turn yellow (jaundice), accompanied by symptoms such as itchy skin, darker urine, and stool that is lighter in colour than normal.
• Unintentional weight loss or a decreased appetite
• Experiencing fatigue or a lack of energy
• Experiencing a fever, feeling overheated, or having chills

Additional symptoms may impact your digestion, including:

Nausea or vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, changes in bowel movements, pain in the upper abdomen or back that may worsen while eating or lying down and improve when leaning forward, and indigestion symptoms like bloating.

If you have a condition such as irritable bowel syndrome, you might experience these symptoms on a regular basis.

You may discover that you become accustomed to them. However, it's crucial to consult a Gastroenterologist if your symptoms change, worsen, or feel unusual for you.

Symptoms of a fatty pancreas may include:

• Pain: Pain in the upper abdomen that worsens after eating, particularly fatty foods, and may radiate to the back or below the left shoulder blade.
• Other symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, fever, rapid heart rate, swelling or tenderness in the upper belly, fluid build-up in the belly, and lowered blood pressure.
• Weight loss: Unintended weight loss.
• Stools: Clay-coloured or oily, smelly stools that leave an oily film in the toilet.

Investigations needed for pancreas disease involve blood tests like amylase, lipase, CA 19-9 (a cancer marker), stool fecal elastase (for pancreatic digestive function), and radiological imaging such as Ultrasound, CT scan of the abdomen, Endoscopic Ultrasound, and PET CT for pancreatic cancer cases.

Early signs and symptoms of pancreatic disease and cancer can be subtle and should not be overlooked, as mentioned above.