Pancreatitis and Alcohol: What You Need to Know

Loading ...
ADMS
Health & Medical
Haven House Recovery Center
https://havenhouserecovery.com/pancreatitis-and-alcohol-what-you-need-to-know/
Pancreatitis and Alcohol: What You Need to Know
B L O G  |  H A V E N  H O U S E  R E C O V E R Y
ht tps ://havenhouserecovery .com/
What Is Pancreatitis? 
Pancreatitis generally has two types:
acute and chronic. Inflammation of
the pancreas that only happens for
short periods of time is referred to as
acute pancreatitis. Most of the time,
this is due to gallstones or heavy
alcohol use. Other causes may
include 
infections, 
medications,
surgery, and trauma. In up to 15% of
cases, the cause is unknown.
Signs and symptoms may range from
mild to severe. Most patients with
acute pancreatitis recover completely
after treatment.
In severe cases, this can result in
bleeding, cyst formation, infection,
and tissue damage. Severe cases
may also damage other organs like
the heart, lungs, and kidneys.
Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand,
often results from the long-term effects
of alcohol on the pancreas. With this type,
there is long-lasting inflammation. In
approximately 70% of cases, heavy and
long-term alcohol drinking is the cause.
Cystic fibrosis, high triglyceride levels,
gallstones, and medications may also be
risk factors.
Symptoms may occur suddenly or after
years.
How Does Alcohol Cause Pancreatitis?
There are some positive effects of
alcohol products 
that cannot be
denied. People use them for recreation,
in religious practice, cooking, and to
feel relaxed and calm. However, it does
not do any good for the pancreas when
taken in excessive amounts on a
regular basis.
Pancreatitis from alcohol use can be
painful and fatal. Approximately one-
third of acute pancreatitis cases in the
US are alcohol-induced.
Despite years of studies, the connection
that explains how alcohol may cause
pancreatitis remains elusive. Not much
is known about the earliest alcohol
effect on the pancreas, and obtaining
tissue for examination is quite difficult
since it is difficult to access, especially
considering its position in the abdomen.
However, 
epidemiological 
studies
clearly show a connection between
pancreatitis 
and 
alcohol. 
The
recurrence of acute episodes is almost
always associated with the level of
drinking the patient engaged in.
One study found that 
those who
regularly drank more than 35 units of
alcohol per week, which is equivalent to
approximately 16 cans of beer or 4
bottles of wine, were 4 times more likely
to develop acute pancreatitis than those
who never drank alcohol at all.
The earliest studies were focused on
the Sphincter of Oddi (SO). Most
studies think that it is the changes in
SO motility due to alcohol exposure
that 
greatly 
contributes 
to 
the
development of pancreatitis.
There is an increased SO tone, also
known as the spasmogenic effect of
alcohol, which 
causes 
pancreatic
enzymes to go to the unprotected
tissues of 
the gland. 
Instead of
digesting food in the intestines, these
enzymes “autodigest” the pancreatic
cells themselves.
Other researchers looked into the
direct toxic effects of alcohol on the
pancreas.
The metabolism of alcohol into toxic
substances also plays a major role.
One by-product of alcohol metabolism
is the generation of reactive oxygen
species (ROS) or free radicals. These
are unstable molecules that can cause
damage to cell membranes, proteins,
and DNA through the process of
oxidation.
Increased ROS level with a concomitant
decrease of antioxidants can cause
cellular 
stress. 
This 
has 
been
demonstrated in experimental studies,
both in animals and humans with cases
of pancreatitis from alcohol use.
Alcohol metabolism by the liver also
produces 
toxic 
metabolites 
like
acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde binds to
liver proteins, altering its function and
promoting a harmful immune response.
What 
Are 
the 
Symptoms 
of
Pancreatitis? 
The signs and symptoms may vary,
depending on which type one 
is
experiencing.
Patients with acute pancreatitis would
most 
likely 
complain 
of 
upper
abdominal pain, which may radiate to
your back and feel worse after eating.
Fever, nausea, and vomiting are also
common.
Chronic pancreatitis can also present
as stomach pain after drinking, but it
usually comes with weight loss and an
oily, foul-smelling stool, because of
malabsorption.
Poor absorption of 
food happens
because of the lack of pancreatic
enzymes to digest food. Also, diabetes
may occur if the insulin-producing cells
of the pancreas are affected.
Stop Drinking Alcohol to Prevent Further
Damage to the Pancreas
The mainstays 
of 
treatment 
for
pancreatitis from alcohol use include
hospital admission, IV fluids, pain relief,
and of course, nutrition. Other treatment
measures, such as the use of enzyme
inhibitors to reduce the corrosive effects
of the digestive enzymes in the pancreas,
are not yet of proven benefit.
Also, it is not yet fully established
whether antibiotics should be included
in the standard treatment options for
pancreatitis, 
though prophylaxis 
in
severe cases has shown to be beneficial
in controlling secondary infections.
Still, prevention is better than a cure! The
single most important thing one can do
to avoid pancreatitis or control 
its
progression is to stop or severely reduce
drinking alcohol!
Some 
patients 
with 
chronic
pancreatitis are already dependent on
alcohol and 
require an addiction
treatment 
plan. 
A 
Christ-based
recovery center near Nashville can be
of great help. Contact Haven House
Recovery if you or a loved one need
help with overcoming your alcohol
addiction.
Santa Rosa beach, FL
(850) 622-3774
Hartsville, TN
(888) 622-3702
PHONE NUMBER
https://havenhouserecovery.com
CLICK BELOW TO VISIT OUR SITE:
Contact
Details
https://www.facebook.com/Haven-House-Mission
FOLLOW US ON: