Alcoholic Pancreatitis is described as an acute or chronic degenerative and inflammatory lesion of the pancreas in the alcoholic which is potentially progressive or possibly reversible by the medical dictionary. In effect it is pancreatitis brought on or complicated by the consumption of alcohol.
Not all alcoholics will develop alcoholic pancreatitis, but alcohol abuse is one of the major risk factors for it. Other major risk factors include gallbladder disease and liver disease. These three risk factors account for 80% of all cases of pancreatitis.
What Types of Alcohol and How Much Alcohol Causes Alcoholic Pancreatitis?
All forms of alcohol are toxic to the pancreas. ‘All forms’ means beer, wine, hard alcohols and any other form you might think of, if it contains alcohol even in a small amount it is toxic to the pancreas.
If you have had an acute attack of pancreatitis you should not drink even the smallest amount of alcohol. Research has shown that after the initial attack of pancreatitis the patient’s lifespan is totally dependent on their ability to stop drinking.
The Effects of Alcohol on the Pancreas Complicating Alcoholic Pancreatitis
The effects of alcohol on the pancreas literally destroy the gland. After the initial attack of pancreatitis, any amount of alcohol is toxic to the pancreas.
Alcohol creates tiny protein plugs in the pancreas that block small pancreatic ducts. It also decreases the amount of protein, bicarbonate, mineral and trace elements in the pancreas by inhibiting the secretion of pancreatic juices.
Alcohol can cause a spasm in the Sphincter of Oddi and this can lead to the backup of pancreatic enzymes in the pancreas. This backup causes congestion, pain, cysts, inflammation and death of the tissue that makes up the pancreas.
Alcohol causes the pancreas to literally digest itself in its own enzymes, killing the pancreas.
Can the Effects of Alcoholic Pancreatitis be healed?
When a patient has had an acute attack of alcoholic pancreatitis and they are able to stop drinking it is possible that the pancreas will heal and future attacks will be prevented.
This is important, stop drinking. For many alcoholics this is a difficult task to undertake. It is usually necessary to get help to stop drinking from health care professionals, family and friends.
Unless you are able to stop drinking, those who have had the first attack of pancreatitis consistently graduate from acute attacks to chronic attacks. Each attack only leads to further tissue death in the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis often leads to pancreatic cancer.
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