Pancreatitis: Causes, Symptoms, and What You Need to Know

When your pancreas, a vital organ behind your stomach that helps digest food and control blood sugar. Also known as the pancreas, it gets inflamed, you’re dealing with pancreatitis, a condition where digestive enzymes attack the pancreas itself, causing severe pain and potential organ damage. It’s not just a bad stomach ache—it’s a medical event that can turn life-threatening if ignored. There are two main types: acute pancreatitis, a sudden, often severe flare-up that usually resolves with treatment, and chronic pancreatitis, a long-term condition that slowly destroys pancreatic tissue and can lead to diabetes or malnutrition. Both require attention, but they’re managed very differently.

Pancreatitis doesn’t come out of nowhere. The top causes? Alcohol and gallstones. About 70% of cases link back to one or both. Heavy drinking over time damages the pancreas directly. Gallstones block the shared duct where bile and pancreatic juices meet, causing enzymes to activate inside the organ instead of the intestine. Other triggers include certain medications, high triglycerides, autoimmune issues, and even some genetic conditions. If you’ve had pancreatitis once, you’re at higher risk for it again—especially if you keep drinking or don’t fix the root cause. And yes, it can happen to people who don’t drink at all. High-fat diets, smoking, and uncontrolled diabetes can quietly push your pancreas toward failure.

What does it feel like? Sharp, constant pain in the upper belly that radiates to your back. It often hits after eating, especially fatty meals. Nausea, vomiting, fever, and a swollen, tender abdomen are common. If you’re dizzy, breathing fast, or your skin turns yellow, you’re in danger—this isn’t something to wait out. Pancreatitis can lead to infection, fluid buildup around the pancreas, or even organ failure. Treatment usually means hospitalization: no food or drink, IV fluids, pain control, and figuring out what caused it. For chronic cases, enzyme supplements and dietary changes become daily necessities. Some people end up needing surgery to remove damaged tissue or gallstones.

The posts below cover real-world issues tied to pancreatitis—from how medications can trigger it, to how to manage pain safely, what supplements might help or hurt, and why seeing the right doctor matters. You’ll find advice on avoiding drug interactions, spotting early warning signs, and understanding how conditions like diabetes or gallbladder disease connect to your pancreas. This isn’t just about surviving an attack—it’s about preventing the next one.