Pancreatitis: What You Need to Know

Sudden, severe belly pain that radiates to your back is not normal. Pancreatitis — inflammation of the pancreas — is a common reason people end up in emergency rooms. It can be short and dangerous (acute) or slow and damaging over time (chronic). Knowing the signs and what to do can prevent complications.

Two causes stand out: gallstones and heavy alcohol use. Gallstones can block the pancreatic duct. Drinking a lot over years or binge drinking can inflame the gland. Other causes include high triglycerides, some medications, abdominal injury, infections, and procedures like ERCP.

Typical symptoms are steady upper belly pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and a fast heartbeat. Pain often gets worse after eating and may improve if you lean forward. Chronic pancreatitis also causes weight loss, oily stools, and long-term digestion problems.

Diagnosis and treatment

If pancreatitis is suspected, doctors check blood for amylase and lipase and order abdominal ultrasound or CT scan. Treatment depends on severity. Mild cases often need IV fluids, pain control, and not eating for a short time so the pancreas can rest. Severe cases require hospital care, antibiotics only if infection is confirmed, nutrition support, and sometimes drainage of fluid collections or surgery. If gallstones caused it, your surgeon may remove the gallbladder or perform ERCP to clear the duct.

Want to reduce your risk? Stop heavy drinking. If you have gallstones, talk to your doctor about options — removing the gallbladder often prevents future attacks. Treat high triglycerides with diet, exercise, and medicines. Review your current prescriptions with a pharmacist to spot drugs that raise pancreatitis risk.

Seek emergency care if you have sudden severe pain, dizziness, fainting, high fever, or uncontrolled vomiting. Pancreatitis can cause low blood pressure, breathing problems, and organ failure in some cases. Quick treatment lowers those risks.

If you're taking drugs like some diuretics, azathioprine, or certain HIV meds, ask your prescriber whether they can cause pancreatitis. If you buy meds online, use verified pharmacies and keep your prescriber in the loop — stopping or switching meds is sometimes the key to preventing repeat attacks.

For chronic pancreatitis, your care team may suggest enzyme pills to help digestion, pain management plans, and nutritional support. Small, frequent meals and avoiding fatty foods often help.

What to expect after an attack

After an acute episode, your team will watch labs, repeat scans if pain persists, and test blood sugar and enzymes. Some people develop diabetes or need pancreatic enzyme replacement. You may see a dietitian to plan low-fat meals and maintain weight. Follow-up with a gastroenterologist within a few weeks helps prevent readmission and catches complications early.

Quitting smoking, avoiding heavy meals, controlling alcohol, and staying on top of medical checkups cut the chance of another attack and keep digestion working better. Talk to doctor.