The gland that sits in the upper area of the abdomen behind the stomach is called the pancreas. The main function of the pancreas is to secrete enzymes and hormones that help regulate the sugar levels in the blood as well as with food digestion. The enzymes that are produced by the pancreas are released into the small intestine via the pancreatic duct and aid indigestion. Glucagon and insulin are produced by the pancreas and are released into the bloodstream in order to regulate blood sugar.
When the pancreas becomes inflamed it is referred to as pancreatitis. Pancreatitis may be chronic or acute. Some of the symptoms include pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and pain that worsens after eating. Abdominal tenderness, fever, and stools that are oily and quite smelly are also symptoms of pancreatitis. Here are 12 possible causes of pancreatitis causes to consider.
1. Genetics
One possible cause of pancreatitis is, unfortunately, one that cannot be controlled. Genetics seems to play a role in whether or not a person may develop this condition. There are simply certain people who have a genetic predisposition to develop it. If a person has a close family member who has had either acute or chronic pancreatitis, the chances of you developing the condition are very high.
If pancreatitis runs in your family it is a good idea to get regular medical check-ups in order to detect it before it becomes more problematic and causes serious damage to the gland. It is also a good idea to know the other risk factors for developing pancreatitis and try to avoid them as much as possible. A person who has a genetic disposition to develop pancreatitis may have a mutation of a specific gene known as the cationic trypsinogen gene that causes the disorder.
