Pancreatitis Diet, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment




A pancreatitis diet is very important for people suffering from acute pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is simply an inflammation of the pancreas and effects more than 240,000 individuals every year in the U.S. Sufferers usually feel chronic severe pain in their abdomens as a result of the condition.

Most people are able to recover fully once the cause of the medical condition is removed. The difficult part is removing the cause(s). Here are a few common causes:

- gallstones in the gallbladder
- over-consumption of alcohol
- smoking
- other gallbladder-relates diseases
- hereditary

What to do After a Pancreatitis Attack

Firstly, you should consult a physician to receive a proper prognosis and any necessary medication you may need, rather than taking advice from the web md or mayo clinic websites, especially if you are under serious pain. You also need to determine the causes of the attack so you can figure out how to remedy the condition.
No matter what the cause, in the few months following the attack, it is important to eat frequently rather than at fixed times of the day. Keep a high carb low fat diet since they put a lot of pressure on the pancreas. Also, avoid all drugs and alcohol. Consult a professional for post pancreatitis diet recommendations.

Pancreatitis sufferers are more likely to develop deficiencies in these nutrients:

- Magnesium
- Vitamin B12
- Methionine
- Vitamins A, C, E
- Selenium

Pancreatitis Symptoms
- unusually high heart rate
- high body temperature/fever
- excessive sweating
- rapid breathing
- vomiting




Acute Pancreatitis Diet Tips

- Consume no more than 30-40 g of fat per day
- Rather than 3 large meals, eat 6-7 small meals throughout the day
- Decrease consumption of caffeine and alcohol
- Stop consumption of tobacco-related products
- Consume plenty of protein and carbs to maintain a healthy pancreatic diet





If the cause(s) of your condition includes gallstones, damaged or infected pancreatic tissues, or any internal problem with the pancreas that cannot be resolved with medication or a bland diet, you may be advised to undergo surgery. In order to remove gallstones, a proper chronic pancreatitis diet plan may be not be enough, you may need to undergo a procedure known as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Doctors usually prescribe patients with pain medication, give them parenteral nutrition, and recommend fasting in order to relieve pressure on the pancreas. If the cause of your pancreatitis is a gallbladder problem, the doctor will probably recommend surgery. If the condition is due to an alcohol-related problem, you may be advised to seek rehab for alcohol addiction.

If your condition is related to your eating habits, you will be advised to eat healthier, exercise more often, lower intake of sugar, and go on a clear liquid diet for chronic pancreatitis (though it's ok if you consume more than just clear liquids). Depending on the severity of your condition, you may also be prescribed antibiotics, painkillers, and other supplements such as Pancrease and Lipram. Whatever your condition though, it is imperative that you seek treatment as soon as possible before the condition gets worse and evolves into pancreatic cancer.

If you're looking for pancreatitis nutrition and recipes, there will be more on that soon.