The pancreas is an important pear-shaped organ in our bodies that is responsible for producing the enzymes needed to digest food. It also makes insulin, the well-known hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Issues with the pancreas can lead to life-threatening diseases such as pancreatitis, diabetes, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Watch out for these habits that are dangerous for your pancreas.
Habits that are Dangerous for Your Pancreas
It is important to keep this organ in good health. Experts from your local gastroenterology clinic in LA want to inform you of the biggest habits that are dangerous for your pancreas and how to avoid pancreatic failure.
High Cholesterol
Your doctors have probably told you in the past that you should avoid a high-cholesterol diet. But why? Foods with high cholesterol counts have a very significant chance of increasing your risk of acute pancreatitis. Too much cholesterol turns into bile in your stomach, which can overwhelm the digestive system and eat away at nutrients before they can be absorbed by your body. Foods such as whole milk dairy products and fatty foods can put you at a higher risk.
Crash Diets
Have you ever dropped everything and started a brand-new diet on a whim? If this diet is especially restrictive, it may do much more harm to your body than good. Crash diets that make you lose weight really quickly will do damage to your liver. Your liver cannot respond to the weight loss quickly enough and will therefore produce too much cholesterol, which in turn become gallstones stuck in your pancreas.
Smoking
Everyone knows that smoking cigarette products is an unhealthy habit. But it puts you at risk for more than just lung cancer. In fact, research has shown a significant link between smoking and acute pancreas problems. One study, following someone who smoked one pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years, showed that the subject had more than double the risk of cancer and pancreatitis compared to those who don’t smoke.
Drinking
Alcohol can also do some major damage to your body. Alcohol is responsible for putting you at risk for many different gastroenterological diseases, from liver failure to pancreatitis. After all, alcohol is a poison that creates toxicity in the digestive system, wreaking havoc on the body. Oftentimes, alcohol-related illness and damage to the digestive organs cannot be reversed. It is important to moderate your drinking in order to stay in good health.
Over-Medicating
There is nothing wrong with taking an Aspirin when you have a headache or using medications as prescribed. However, if you find yourself taking lots of over-the-counter medications to ease pain and relieve symptoms, you might be doing irreversible damage to your pancreas and your liver. Be especially careful of medications that include thiazides, sulfonamides, corticosteroids, estrogens, and azathioprine. These ingredients increase the risk of pancreatitis.
Prevent Pancreas Problems
You can prevent further issues by steering clear of the above habits. You can prevent pancreatitis and lower your risk by:
- Managing your weight and not losing or gaining weight too fast
- Reducing the amount you smoke and trying to quit
- Limiting yourself to just one or two drinks per day
- Indulging in a more well-rounded diet that is free of carbohydrates
Get in touch with our gastroenterologist at your earliest convenience to learn how you can prevent pancreatitis and other serious issues.
Create Your Own Health Plan Today
If you have issues or suspected issues with the pancreas or liver, it is important to reach out to your local gastroenterology clinic right away. We can set you on your own personal plan to achieve the best pancreatic treatment Los Angeles has to offer. Reach out today and learn how to take preventative measures before you have to deal with permanent pancreatic damage. Invest in your better health today!
