Options for pancreatic damage and its treatment

Pathology: how to recognize

The pancreas takes an active part in digestion and controls blood sugar levels. Its inflammation is called “pancreatitis”.

Early recognition of inflammatory processes will help determine how the pancreas can be made to work without leading to a serious condition such as pancreatitis.

The first symptoms are pain after eating in the epigastric region, appearing closer to the left side and left hypochondrium. They are often accompanied by severe vomiting. Pain will appear after exposure to negative factors on the gland.

Causes of pain:

• excessive alcohol consumption;
• violation of nutritional culture (excessive consumption of fatty and smoked foods);
• smoking.

The first thing that needs to be done in order to improve the condition of the pancreas is to exclude one of these causes. If complete exclusion is not possible, then normalizing the functioning of the pancreas becomes an elusive goal. The destructive effects will increase, which will eventually lead you to the doctor.

Diseases

Depending on which areas are susceptible to the disease and at what stage the process is, options for further developments are distinguished:

• in acute pancreatitis, accompanied by swelling of the pancreas, it is possible to achieve complete recovery of the organ with restoration of the structure;
• in case of chronic inflammation, if the exocrine section responsible for the synthesis of digestive enzymes is affected, complete recovery is possible; if the section responsible for endocrine activity (hormone production) is damaged, then restoration of structural integrity is possible, but return of functional activity is unlikely;
• in most cases, with necrotic lesions or hemorrhages, scar tissue or pseudocysts (formations from gland cells filled with fluid) are formed to a lesser extent; structural restoration of such areas is unlikely in full; functionally they also do not fulfill their purpose.

The regenerative capacity of the pancreas declines sharply from the moment of birth, to which time it can regenerate from just a few cells.

Important. After birth, the cells are no longer completely restored, but only renew some functional formations within themselves.

As a result, with severe damage - necrosis, new cells are formed. But those responsible for endocrine function have a very complex structure and are not replaced with analogues, as a result of which some of the functions of the pancreas are lost.

Thus, we can conclude that the gland is amenable to structural and partially functional restoration, except for the areas responsible for the endocrine system. Also, the recovery process is influenced by a number of factors: general health, age, heredity, sluggish concomitant diseases, the state of the gland at the time of the disease, and others.

How to improve the functioning of the pancreas?

It is necessary to improve the functioning of the pancreas as soon as possible in order to avoid the development of severe inflammation. After eliminating causative factors, you need to begin adjusting your diet.

First of all, we exclude fatty, spicy, smoked, salty foods from the menu. The consumption of sweets should also be reduced as much as possible. A large amount of sweets causes the diseased gland to work to the limit, secreting insulin. This will make the condition worse.

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We increase the number of meals, and at the same time reduce the number of servings. For example, we ate 700 g of food 3 times a day, we will eat 300 grams 5 times a day.

We consult with a specialist about taking special mineral water. Properly selected mineral water will help normalize the functioning of the pancreas.

We add foods to the diet that will contribute to the normal functioning of the pancreas.

Many fruits work great. Kiwi will increase the production of pancreatic juice in case of its deficiency. And oranges contain many essential elements that will have a general strengthening effect. Cherries, black currants, apples, and plums will also be useful.

Millet will help normalize impaired sugar metabolism, thanks to the special elements present in it. Sea kale, when consumed, will help tidy up the digestive processes.

It is recommended to replace bread with yeast-free bread, add stewed and steamed dishes to the diet.

Important. Be sure to leave a slight feeling of hunger at the end of the meal. Eating to your heart's content is strictly prohibited!

Diet

In acute pancreatitis, it is recommended to refrain from eating for several days. When food enters the stomach, hormones begin to be synthesized, which stimulate the release of pancreatic enzymes, and due to the inflammatory process, this significantly worsens the condition of the organ. Therapeutic fasting will help reduce the severity of pain and dyspeptic syndrome.

After 48–72 hours, you can start eating, but you must adhere to a therapeutic diet that will not overload the digestive system. For pancreatitis, diet No. 5 is prescribed. It provides chemical, mechanical and thermal sparing of the gastrointestinal tract, reduces pain, reduces the secretory function of the pancreas, and restores metabolism.

During the period of exacerbation, the No5P diet is indicated (option 1); as the patient’s condition improves, the patient is transferred to the No5P diet (option 2)

The No5P diet is low-calorie, contains the physiological norm of protein, but sharply limits the consumption of fats and quickly digestible carbohydrates. Dishes that stimulate the secretion of pancreatic juice and foods that contain large amounts of fiber are completely excluded. All dishes must be liquid or semi-liquid.

Allows consumption of only boiled or steamed food. The diet may include crackers, cereal soups in vegetable broth, cream soup in weak meat broth, steamed cutlets from lean meat, soft-boiled chicken eggs, mashed porridge prepared without milk, compotes, weak tea.

This diet must be followed for 5–10 days. It will help support the pancreas and speed up the recovery of the organ.

After the inflammation subsides, the patient is transferred to the second version of the No5P diet. It is necessary to increase the amount of protein in the diet to 120 grams, and limit fat to 60–70 grams. It is still prohibited to include in the menu dishes that contain extractive substances that stimulate the secretion of pancreatic juice.

Nutrition for pancreatic disease

The patient can eat:

• vegetable soups (cabbage cannot be added) with the addition of cereals and noodles;
• pureed meat dishes;
• fish dishes (can be served in pieces or chopped);
• dairy and fermented milk products;
• vegetables (potatoes, carrots, beets, pumpkin, zucchini);
• compotes, jelly, jelly.

This diet should be followed for a long time, from 3 months to a year. Since thermal sparing of the gastrointestinal tract is also required, you should not eat too hot or cold food. Dietary food is selected depending on the disease, its stage and severity, therefore the attending physician will provide an exact list of permitted and prohibited foods.

It is impossible to improve the functioning of the pancreas without following dietary recommendations

The condition of the organ, and the entire digestive system, is negatively affected by alcohol consumption, smoking, irregular food intake, love of fatty, spicy foods and fast food. It is better to avoid these products completely.

Drug support for the pancreas

Drug therapy, even with drugs sold in pharmacies without a prescription, always requires consultation with a specialist. When starting to improve the functioning of the pancreas with medications, be careful in your actions.

Many groups of drugs are used to treat inflammation of the pancreas. However, we will look at a few of them necessary to improve its performance.

1. Antacids are intended to restore the disturbed acid-base balance in the stomach. This helps normalize pancreatic function and reduce pain. These include products such as Omez, Zantac, and Acylok.
2. Antisecretory drugs reduce the secretion of gastric juices. While the stomach secretes excessive juices, treatment of the pancreas is ineffective. These include: Nizatidine, Pantroprazole, etc.
3. Myotropic antispasmodics are needed to relieve acute attacks of pancreatitis. In particular, pain syndrome. These include: “Platifillin”, “Bendazol”, etc.
4. NSAIDs will reduce inflammation in the pancreas. The drugs in this group are known to everyone. For example, “Diclofenac”, “Nise”, “Nimesulide”.

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Therapy for chronic pancreatitis

Symptoms of the chronic form of the disease can be intense and mild.
If the patient experiences an exacerbation, the treatment algorithm is similar to the acute phase of the disease. As a rule, the reasons for the worsening of the picture lie in poor nutrition - the patient does not follow a diet. Diet is the basis of treatment. As soon as you deviate a little from the recommendations of your doctor, how the pain syndrome manifests itself. The pain does not go away on its own; the use of painkillers is required.

What to drink for the pancreas to relieve pain? If the pain syndrome is severe, then antispasmodic medications are prescribed - No-shpa. The tablets help reduce inflammation in the organ and, accordingly, the pain subsides.

The following medications can be taken as pain relievers:

1. To get rid of spasms in the gastrointestinal tract, antispasmodics of myotropic action - Sparex - are used.
2. Antisecretory drugs are prescribed for a short course - Diacarb or Omez in tablet form. It is advisable to use it for edematous pancreatitis.
3. Octreotide helps suppress the secretion of hormones by the pancreas, since it is they that cause pain during synthesis. The drug can only be taken under the supervision of a doctor.

For pancreatic obesity – lipofibrosis, therapy consists of the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac), antispasmodics (Papaverine), and antibiotics. In advanced cases, surgical intervention is required.

Against the backdrop of a prolonged course of the disease, the normal tissues of the organ are replaced by connective tissue, a dysfunction is observed, therefore diabetes mellitus develops, and digestion is upset. In order for the internal organ to rest, pancreatic medications with enzymes are additionally prescribed:

• Festal (as in the photo) is taken three times a day, one tablet with meals. To reduce the acidity of gastric juice, histamine blockers are additionally prescribed.
• Pancreatin, Creon, Panzinorm - pancreatic enzymes. You need to take 2 tablets three times a day during meals, preferably with still mineral water. Medicines promote the breakdown of fats, carbohydrates and protein components.

Tablets with digestive enzymes help get rid of abdominal discomfort, bloating, and help improve the digestion process and well-being. Doctors note that Mezim Forte is often sold counterfeit. To check the originality of a medicine, just smell it - the real medicine has an unpleasant specific smell, while counterfeits do not smell of anything.

How can you make the pancreas work using folk remedies?

Among folk remedies, there are many different products and methods with which you can normalize pancreatic function. By eliminating the negative reasons described above, you can get your pancreas working in 10-12 days.

First, let's look at the fastest way - you need to pour buckwheat with kefir for 5 hours, then take half on an empty stomach, and the other half in the evening.

Other methods of folk therapy for the pancreas are not such quick methods. Remember that when using each of them or them together in combination, consultation with a specialist is required. You need this to avoid negative consequences.

1. An excellent remedy for the pancreas is the so-called “coffee drink” based on chicory. We will need chicory roots; a store-bought drink will not work. Grind them in a meat grinder or blender. Next, add two tablespoons per glass of boiling water. Let this product sit for twenty minutes. We drink in large sips all day long. The course of treatment is 21 days, after which we take a break of 7 days and repeat.
2. In the morning, use this wonderful method to normalize enzyme production and cleanse the liver. We drink warm 3% milk in the morning on an empty stomach, and eat it with a spoonful of honey. After this, do not eat for 2 hours, otherwise there will be no effect. A negative effect will also occur if you do not eat at all.
3. The healing properties of the golden mustache are used to improve the work. Craftsmen successfully treat about 400 different diseases with it, including pathology of the pancreas. For treatment, take one leaf, chop it finely, throw it in boiling water, leave for one day in a cold place. Divide the infusion into 3 doses. We drink 3 times a day.
4. There are also many herbs that can help improve pancreatic function. Folk craftsmen recommend infusions using elecampane, calendula, galega, agrimony, string, and horsetail. Diluted based on the proportions of 1 tbsp. l. for one glass of boiling water. Infuse thoroughly (20-40 minutes), take half a glass per dose, 3 times a day. The general course of treatment is one week. Take herbs individually or mixed together.

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An excellent way to make the pancreas work is to use potato juice. It is important not to use green potatoes, because the substances contained in them are very harmful and can negatively affect the body. To treat this kind of folk remedy, you need to do the following:

• medium potatoes must be washed and all the eyes cut out of them;
• Next we will need carrots - we will peel 3 of them;
• then we grind the vegetables in a meat grinder, having previously chopped them;
• squeeze the resulting mass in gauze;
• We drink the resulting juice strictly on an empty stomach in the morning;
• then we go to rest for half an hour, after which we definitely have cereal for breakfast;
• We are treated for a week and take the same break, repeat the procedure 3 times with breaks.

Important. Traditional healers recommend this remedy, confirming its great effectiveness in improving the functioning of the pancreas.

Do not overuse the above folk remedies. Follow the instructions carefully and take breaks. Excessive zeal leads to negative consequences.

Products that improve organ function

Folk remedies in the form of infusion or tea help improve pancreatic health.
In addition to eating right, you need to remember about the right choice of foods that maintain body tone. Supporting the normal functioning of the gland can be done with products such as:

• kiwi, the elements of which are capable of producing pancreatic juice;
• oranges, which contain many essential vitamins and minerals;
• millet, the elements of which are involved in insulin metabolism;
• seaweed, which can improve the digestive process;
• Broccoli, which is a direct source of fiber and also has an antioxidant effect.

In addition, you should not neglect folk remedies, which provide significant assistance in improving the digestive process. For this purpose, decoctions of flax seeds, elderberries, sorrel, cranberries, blueberries and many other plants are used. But such methods do not directly treat, they only help the main drug treatment.

Restoration of pancreatic secretion

Pancreatic enzymes perform an important function in the digestion of food. An insufficient number of them leads to:

• bowel dysfunction (constipation or diarrhea);
• lack of appetite and sudden weight loss;
• flatulence;
• loss of strength.

Excessive amounts of gland secretion cause the development of pancreatitis.

Enzyme-forming tablets help normalize the production of enzymes. These are Digestal, Creon, Mezim, Unienzyme, Festal, Pancreatin. Isoprenaline, Calcitonin, and Glucagon contribute to a decrease in secretion.

Lifestyle

The right lifestyle helps to achieve tangible improvements. It provides:

• reconsidering attitudes towards food;
• correction of diet;
• maintaining a balance between rest and exercise;
• daily exposure to air;
• physical exercise.

An essential requirement is the exclusion of excessive physical activity.

Compliance with these rules will help consolidate the effect of treatment and enable the body to cope with the functions assigned to it.

Restoring the pancreas is a complex and lengthy process. Sometimes it drags on for years, and sometimes you have to adhere to doctor’s recommendations to follow a diet and take enzymes throughout your life. And yet, by overcoming difficulties, you can achieve complete victory over the disease.

The pancreas (P) is a complex organ that actively participates in the digestive process, producing enzymes for the complete digestion of food, as well as hormones that regulate carbohydrate and fat metabolism.

It occupies a special place, as its activity affects many processes in the human body, including the functioning of the brain, for which the main source of energy is glucose.

Therefore, it is very important to improve the functioning of the pancreas in a timely manner if it stops producing enzymes or hormones.

Forecast

Excess or lack of production of the hormone insulin, necessary to maintain normal blood sugar, leads to a significant increase in the latter. This triggers the development of diabetes. Unfortunately, the process of organ restoration with this disease is impossible.

Therefore, the therapeutic course involves maintaining normal glucose levels with continuous drug treatment and following a strict diet.

As a result of a number of studies, the possibility of recovery from a terrible disease with the help of bone marrow transplantation has been revealed.

But the operation is associated with a great risk to the lives of patients, so this method is not used yet. We can only believe that an affordable treatment option will still be found.

The question of whether it is possible to restore an organ in the presence of this type of diabetes has not been fully studied. The opinions of many scientists boil down to the fact that losing the patient’s weight has a positive effect on the condition of the pancreas and significantly improves its functioning.

This becomes the basis for following a strict diet, which makes it possible to improve the functioning of the organ.

Studies have been conducted that have identified factors for the destruction of beta cells responsible for the production of insulin. As it turned out, they are destroyed by cells of the immune system that penetrate the gland.

The possibility of enhanced proliferation of beta cells is being actively studied. The basis of the theory is that it is possible that intestinal cells can be converted into insulin-producing cells.

Traditional methods

Traditional medicine has in its arsenal a lot of recipes that will help improve the functioning of the pancreas. It is important to drink a lot of liquid, and if it also contains the necessary enzymes or substances to improve digestion, then this will already be a kind of healing drink.

The best folk remedies for stimulating the digestive system are decoctions and infusions of herbs. There are basic recipes to which you can add ingredients, or adjust the taste of the drink to your preferences with spices and seasonings. Among the popular folk remedies for improving the functioning of the pancreas:

• a decoction of herbs that need to be taken in equal proportions - mint, oregano, wormwood, dried herbs, yarrow;
• herbal tea containing juniper, fireweed, red clover;
• decoction of herb volodushka;
• an infusion of herbs taken in equal proportions - ginseng, Rhodiola rosea, Chinese lemongrass, drink in courses of 6-7 days with the same interval to rest the body;
• a decoction of plants - barberry, elderberry, parsley, they will improve the performance of the gland.

Diseases of the pancreas affect not only the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, but also the general state of health. To normalize well-being and restore the activity of the organ and the entire digestive tract, it is important to use means aimed at improving the functioning of the pancreas.

Stimulation with drugs

If the pancreas is not working, it is best to seek help from official medicine. At least in order to get an accurate diagnosis and know 100% what needs to be treated.

After this, you can choose whether to follow the advice of an experienced specialist or go for home treatment with folk remedies.

So, the easiest way to make the pancreas work is to follow dietary restrictions in the form of a special diet, as well as an appropriate meal regimen (frequent and fractional).

It must be remembered that the feeling of fullness does not come immediately, but only 20-30 minutes after the meal. Therefore, you need to get up from the table a little hungry. This will help not overload the gland by digesting unnecessary food.

The pancreas will be helped by fasting days or short-term (2-3 days) complete fasting. To stimulate and improve the health of the organ, it is recommended to drink mineral water.

All medications of this type are best taken before meals, so that they have enough time to dissolve in the duodenum and prepare to meet the food masses ingested. You can take medications during a meal or immediately after it, if it was not possible to do this in advance.

Creon is one of the highest quality and most effective enzyme preparations in modern pharmacology. It contains enzymes that should normally be produced by the pancreas.

With their help, the constituent elements of food (BJU) are digested and their complete absorption in the intestinal tract is ensured.

In addition, Creon stimulates the pancreas to produce its own enzymes, and also improves the functioning of all digestive processes. The dosage is prescribed individually, most often 1-2 capsules with each meal.

The drug has very few side effects. Sometimes nausea, stool disorders, discomfort in the stomach, and skin rashes may occur. At the early stage of pancreatitis, during pregnancy and lactation, Creon is not recommended for use, especially without the consent of a doctor.

Functions of the organ

The function of the pancreas is to regulate the secretion of pancreatic enzymes that facilitate the digestion of food. Also, the secretions of the gland contribute to the absorption of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. This is its external influence.

As for internal secretion, it is needed to maintain a balance between the release of hormones such as glucagon and insulin. The difference in their activity is exactly the opposite: insulin maintains glucose levels, glucagon increases it. The predominance of one of them provokes the development of diabetes mellitus.

In addition to diabetes mellitus, pathological processes in the pancreas lead to inflammation of the organ - pancreatitis. This is an equally dangerous disease that can develop into cancer.

Pathological processes cause serious problems with digestive processes and disruptions in the functioning of the endocrine system.

To find out how long it takes for an organ to recover and how to achieve its full functioning, you need to familiarize yourself with the factors that have a detrimental effect on its activity.

Is healing possible?

The peculiarity of this gland is that it performs two functions - digestive and hormonal.

Insufficient production of pancreatic juice leads to a deterioration in the general condition and provokes disruptions in the digestive system, manifested by indigestion, acute pain and weakness. This is how acute pancreatitis occurs. It requires immediate medical attention followed by taking medications.

The patient is recommended to fast and cleanse the pancreas for three days.

It is mainly carried out by cleansing the stomach. For this purpose, mechanical vomiting is induced. This is followed by drinking a lot of water and vomiting again. The procedure is repeated several times until the stomach is completely cleansed.

An enema is used to cleanse the intestines.

As a result, the body is completely freed from all harmful substances, which has a positive effect on the activity of the gland.

After these procedures, therapeutic fasting on mineral water without gas is indicated.

In acute pancreatitis, recovery is possible. To do this, you must first of all pay attention to nutrition, exclude all harmful foods, the emphasis is on eating liquid porridges, boiled vegetables and broths based on them, and meat dishes.

To avoid recurrence of the problem, a gentle diet is recommended for continuous use, which will become the basis for the complete restoration of organ functions.

In case of an aggravated chronic form, the therapeutic course involves treatment in a hospital. In exceptional cases, partial removal of the gland is resorted to.

After the acute attack has resolved, the patient is recommended to undergo a strict diet and drug treatment using the following drugs:

• agents that suppress excessive production of pancreatic enzymes;
• medications that help equalize stomach acidity;
• antispasmodics, painkillers and bactericidal agents;
• pancreatic enzymes.

The use of a vitamin complex is provided to strengthen the immune system.

In case of chronic pancreatitis, a constant recovery diet is prescribed in order to reduce the load on the organ.

Monitoring glucose levels is recommended. The presence of indicators exceeding the norm is the basis for taking drugs that lower their levels or insulin injections.