Pancreas disorders and their complications wreak havoc on the digestive system and blood sugar levels. The pancreas is a tiny gland that lies below the stomach, between the duodenum and the spleen, and is between 15 and 25 cm in length.
The pancreas combines two vital systems in our body: endocrine and digestive, releasing the hormones insulin and glucagon as well as enzymes that aid digestion.
Learn about the function of the pancreas, the signs that signal a problem, and the illnesses that affect it.
What Is The Pancreas For?
The pancreas’ role in digestion is to aid in the digestion of proteins, carbs, and lipids by releasing digestive enzymes into pancreatic juice, an alkaline liquid high in bicarbonate.
The stomach enzyme is inactivated by bicarbonate, which neutralizes the acidity of the food bolus, allowing the digestion process to take place in the small intestine, where pancreatic enzymes that do not operate in an acidic environment may take over.
The hormones insulin and glucagon, generated by the pancreas, regulate blood glucose, or the amount of glucose in the blood.
Insulin reduces the concentration of glucose in the blood, increasing glucose entry into muscle, adipose tissue (fat), and liver cells. The body uses glucose as an energy source, and any excess is stored as glycogen in the muscles or as fat.
Glucagon stimulates the release of stored glucose from the liver and the burning of fat for energy by increasing the concentration of glucose in the blood.
Symptoms Of Pancreas Problems
As we’ve seen, the pancreas serves a critical role in our bodies, and its malfunction may result in major health issues.
Inflammation, often known as pancreatitis, is the most prevalent condition that affects the pancreas.
Symptoms of a pancreatic dysfunction include:
Fever
When your body temperature increases over 37.5°C, it indicates that your immune system is mobilizing to battle inflammation or infection. Pancreatitis causes inflammation, which may cause a fever.
Vomiting And Nausea
Because the pancreas is involved in digestion, if it fails, digestion will suffer as well.
The presence of poorly digested food in the body causes a general sensation of malaise, as well as nausea and vomiting.
Fat In The Stool
Another effect of the pancreas malfunctioning in the digestive process is the inability to absorb fat in the gut, which encourages fat excretion in the stool.
As a result, the faces seem more oily, have a yellowish or white appearance, and have a stronger odor.
Unintentional Weight Loss
Weight loss may occur as a result of inadequate food absorption in the gut, as a result of pancreatic failure, and also because persons with pancreas problems tend to lose their appetite.
Headache
Headache is a pretty common symptom, yet it suggests that something in the body is not operating properly.
The immune system becomes overactive during an inflammatory response, resulting in weariness, lethargy, and headache. It’s as if your body is forcing you to relax so that more energy may be spent toward treating the issue, in this instance, pancreatic inflammation.
As a consequence, the individual may become irritated and have difficulty concentrating.
