The pancreas plays a vital role in your physical well-being. Sitting between the small intestine and the stomach, the pancreas helps with digestion, as well as the regulation of energy throughout your body. However, this organ can suffer damage through alcohol abuse.
Alcohol-Induced Pancreatitis
In Western Europe, 70% to 80% of chronic pancreatitis is caused by heavy drinking. Excessive consumption of alcohol is a contributing factor in 17% to 25% of all worldwide pancreatitis cases. Habitually drinking 4-5 units of alcohol a day over 5 years greatly enhances your chance of contracting pancreatitis.
Though it’s not fully understood how alcohol affects the pancreas (one theory is that molecules from alcohol interfere with the pancreatic cells), studies have shown a clear link between alcohol consumption and acute pancreatitis.
If heavy drinking occurs over a long period, the individual is susceptible to developing chronic pancreatitis. For people who regularly abuse alcohol, there can be a recurrence of pancreatitis after recovering from this medical issue.
Pancreatic Pain
The pain experienced by both acute and chronic pancreatitis occurs in the same region: your abdomen and back. Acute pancreatitis causes this dull pain that can be cyclical, recurring regularly over several minutes to a few hours. Chronic pancreatitis is the result of an inflamed pancreas. The pain from this level of the illness can be severe and may last for many years.
Males (especially those who have abused alcohol) are more prone to getting chronic pancreatitis over females. People who have a genetic predisposition to pancreatitis may find they develop this health issue at an earlier stage of their life.
Here we list the symptoms of both forms of pancreatitis (these are in addition to the pain mentioned above). This allows you to self-diagnose so that you can seek professional medical help.
Acute Pancreatitis
Signs that you may have acute pancreatitis are:
- Feeling nauseous
- Vomiting
- Fever
- A fast pulse
- Your stomach is swollen or is tender when touched.
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion
Chronic Pancreatitis
The symptoms of chronic pancreatitis are similar to those of the acute form. However, there can be some additional indications that you are suffering from this:
- Recurring episodes of severe abdominal pain
- Weight loss
- Jaundice (the skin and eyes take on a yellow hue)
- Diabetic-like symptoms (excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue)
- Loss of appetite
- Shortness of breath
Chronic pancreatitis usually occurs after an individual has had one or more cases of the acute variation. The pain may be experienced directly after having a meal, as the pancreas is an organ involved in the digestion process.
If you are experiencing the onset of acute pancreatitis, you need to take immediate action to mitigate the situation. Stop drinking alcohol and switch to a low-fat diet. Seek professional medical help. Continuing to consume alcohol will only exacerbate the issue and lead to the development of chronic pancreatitis.
Indications Of An Alcohol Dependency Issue
As we have mentioned, heavy drinking can be a major factor in a person developing acute pancreatitis. Ongoing alcohol abuse can result in the sickness becoming more severe.
Maybe you or someone you know doesn’t realize they have an issue with alcohol. Warning signs that one may have alcohol dependency problems are:
- Temporary periods of blackout
- Short-term memory loss
- Becoming irritable if denied access to alcohol
- Mood swings are stabilized through alcohol.
- Making excuses for why you require alcohol
- Placing your need for alcohol above other responsibilities and obligations
- Pulling away from friends and family so that you can drink
- Getting mixed up with a new group of people that encourages you to drink to excess
- Using alcohol to self-medicate and numb emotional/psychological traumas and issues
Though one symptom isn’t enough to indicate one is on the path to becoming an alcoholic, several signs co-occurring should raise red flags.
Seek out professional psychological and medical support if you, a family member, or a friend show signs of alcohol abuse.
Conclusion
Heavy drinking can have a myriad of adverse health effects. One of these is the development of acute and chronic pancreatitis. Though the symptoms of this illness are the same for both varieties, the difference lies in the degree of pain experienced.
Chronic pancreatitis pain is severe and can reoccur over several years. To prevent the progression of this sickness from its acute form, alcohol issues need to be addressed.
Reach out for help regarding your alcohol dependency. There are plenty addiction treatment centers that can effectively treat alcohol addiction. They can also get you the medical help necessary to treat alcohol-induced pancreatitis.
