Pancreatitis refers to the inflammatory process to which the pancreas is prone. The gland is located on the left side of the body behind the stomach. This small body plays an exceptional role in the life of the body. It not only secretes digestive enzymes that enter through the duct into the duodenum but also throws insulin, which participates in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism, into the bloodstream. Inflammation of the gland arises due to the fact that enzymes, for some reason not having got into the intestines, begin to digest the cells of the organ itself.
It is obvious that pancreatitis is very dangerous and threatens with paid consequences. To what exact consequences does it lead, how likely is damage to other organs? The disease can proceed in different ways, and then they talk about either acute or chronic course.
In acute pancreatitis, the inflammatory process is extremely dangerous, since it proceeds very quickly. If you do not have time to help the patient, then this disease leads to death. Active enzymes not only digest the gland tissue, but also corrode the walls of blood vessels, are in the blood and through the bloodstream enter other organs, damaging them. This leads to the development of cardiac, respiratory or renal failure. In the stomach, damage to the walls is possible, which causes bleeding and fistula formation. The putrefactive process in the dead tissues is dangerous and threatens with the fact that it can lead to sepsis. In some cases, pancreatitis leads to violations of the structure of the brain. Insulin deficiency ends with diabetes mellitus.
How dangerous is chronic pancreatitis? Inflammation with this form does not develop as quickly as in acute pancreatitis, but destruction of the pancreatic tissues occurs continuously. This leads to various complications.
Persistent bleeding due to collapsing vessels causes anemia and a drop in pressure in the body. Chronic inflammation is also dangerous because it threatens to increase the risk of cancer. The glandular tissue is replaced by a connective tissue, which leads to the formation of pseudocysts and seriously disrupts the process of digestion. Chronic pancreatitis leads to a decrease in immunity, and a poorly protected organism becomes vulnerable to various infections.
From all that has been said, one can draw a conclusion about the seriousness of the present disease. The consequences are the most deplorable. But they can be avoided if you follow the preventive measures of the disease, if necessary, go to the doctor on time and follow all his recommendations.