Pancreatic Function and Treatment of Pancreatic Disorders

The pancreas is one of the organs in the human digestive tract whose task is to produce hormones and enzymes to destroy food in the stomach.

The following is a description of the function of the pancreas and any disorders that can arise if the pancreas is damaged and how to maintain the health of this digestive organ.

Pancreatic Function and Treatment of Pancreatic Disorders

Pancreatic function

The pancreas is behind the abdomen with a length of 18-25 cm and has a shape resembling a long fish. The pancreas has endocrine and exocrine functions.

Exorin is a gland that secretes an enzyme through its own duct to the outside world both within and on the surface of the body. Examples are salivary glands, sweat glands, mothers' milk glands, mucous glands, sebaceous glands (oils), and tear glands. The pancreas produces an enzyme that is useful for breaking food so it can be digested and absorbed by the body. The enzyme has its own function. For example lipase to break down fat into cholesterol and fatty acids. Kemotripsin and trypsin to digest proteins, in addition there is also an amylase that serves to break down carbohydrates.

While the function of the endocrine glands is secreted hormones. This hormone is not channeled through the pancreatic ducts, but directly into the bloodstream. The hormone is insulin. Insulin will bind glucose from the blood to be carried to some tissues in the body to be used as energy. This insulin hormone is also important for the liver, as it helps the liver to absorb glucose and store it as glycogen. Glycogen is useful for the body when it needs extra energy. When the glucose in the blood is too low, the glucagon hormone that will break back glycogen into glucose in the liver. Glucagon is also produced by the pancreas.

Also Read : Causes of Pain in the Tailbone Disturbing Activity

What Happens If the Pancreas Is Damaged?

A healthy pancreas will produce the right substances in the right amount and time when we eat. However, the pancreas that has the disorder is not able to produce digestive enzymes optimally so that the absorption of food is also disrupted and cause diarrhea or weight loss.

Not only diarrhea or weight loss, the disorders experienced by the pancreas can also cause some other diseases are very dangerous. The following are some types of disorders or damage to the pancreas, among others:

• Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes In the condition of type 2 diabetes, the body does not use insulin as it should (resistant) and blood sugar rise. The pancreas also loses the ability to produce and release insulin according to the body's normal levels. While in type 1 diabetes, the immune system actually attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin so that in people with type 1 diabetes required insulin injections for life.
• Pancreatitis The main cause of this disease is still unknown, but the problem of gallstones and alcoholic drinking habits can be one of the triggers. In pancreatitis, the pancreas becomes damaged and inflamed because of the digestive substance itself. Pancreatitis can cause death of the pancreas tissue itself.
• Cystic fibrosis This disease is caused by a genetic disorder that causes abnormalities in the pancreas and lungs. This condition can cause diabetes or digestive problems.
• Pancreatic Cancer Pancreatic cancer can be regarded as a disease that can quietly turn off because it turns out the symptoms are initially slight and not even visible. In the pancreas there are several different types of cells that each store the risk of causing various tumors. The most common place to develop cancer is the cells found in the pancreatic ducts.
• Pancreatic pseudocysts A fluid-filled cavity called a pseudocyst can form after the onset of pancreatitis. This disease can be overcome by performing surgical drainage or in some patients can heal by itself.

In addition to some of the above diseases, disturbance or damage to other pancreas is islet cell tumor where hormone production increases sharply, and enlargement of the pancreas which can mean only size abnormalities with normal function or indeed there is a disease to be treated.

How To Handle Pancreatic Disorders?

In order for you to avoid some of the above diseases, it helps you maintain the health of the pancreas. The trick is not difficult to do. Simply change your lifestyle with new, healthier habits. Avoid smoking and reduce alcohol consumption or even stop altogether. Excessive consumption of alcohol and smoking can damage the function and health of the pancreas. In addition, to avoid pancreatic cancer, you should also keep the ideal weight remains.

However, if you are already experiencing a disruption to the function of the pancreas, you can cope with a treatment tailored to the disorder experienced, among others:

• Insulin injections. Insulin injections are usually given to people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who can not be treated with drugs taken. The point is to lower blood sugar levels.
• Giving enzyme. The administration of pancreatic enzymes is given to those with cystic fibrosis. Enzyme administration is usually done through enzyme supplements.
• Drainage. This drainage is done in patients with pseudocysts by inserting needles and hoses into the pseudocyst through the skin, and the tube is connected to the abdominal or intestinal cavity. This is to remove or dry the cyst.
• Resection of pancreatic cancer. This operation is done by removing the gallbladder, part of the pancreas head, and the base of the small intestine.
• Operation pseudocyst. Pseudocyst surgery techniques performed include laparotomy or laparoscopy. The laparotomy is with a long vertical incision in the abdomen. Laparoscopy is surgery through several small incisions. Both of these surgical techniques are performed to remove pseudocysts.
• Islet cell transplantation. This transplant is still under study and performed to treat type 1 diabetes. Transplantation is done by removing the patient's islet cell and replaced by pancreatic islet cells from the donor.
• Pancreatic transplantation. This transplantation is performed in people with cystic fibrosis and diabetes by using a replacement pancreas from a donor.

Start getting used to living a healthy lifestyle by staying away from cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. In addition you are advised to avoid unhealthy foods that can cause obesity.

Share this post