Pancreatic Pain After Alcohol – what can it mean?

TL;DR

The pancreas plays a key role in digestion and blood sugar regulation, and also participates in alcohol metabolism – its abuse can lead to serious organ damage. Any alcohol harms the pancreas, especially with regular consumption – beer, despite lower ethanol content, can also burden it due to its high glycemic index. Alcoholic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer are two main diseases related to alcohol abuse – both can lead to life-threatening complications. Symptoms of a damaged pancreas include severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, weight loss, and symptoms of general weakness. Alcohol can also lead to pancreatic cyst formation, especially as a result of inflammation of this organ. The pancreas has regenerative capacity, but alcohol slows and disrupts this process – long-term damage (e.g., fibrosis) can be irreversible. Pancreatic regeneration is supported by a proper diet: rich in protein, vegetables, whole grain products, and low-sugar fruits, with limitation of fats and sweets.

Pancreas and Alcohol

The pancreas is a small glandular organ that regulates sugar in the body by synthesizing and releasing insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin. It also actively participates in the digestion of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates and produces enzymes that play an important role in the process of alcohol metabolism. This organ is located in the back part of the abdomen behind the spine. Its pain appears in the epigastrium and can radiate to the back. Pancreatic pain is common after alcohol, but not all drinkers develop problems with this organ. According to researchers, the risk of pancreatic diseases in alcoholics largely depends on genetic factors and diet. Read also: Effects of Alcohol on the Human Body

Daily Beer Drinking and the Pancreas

Daily beer drinking can constitute excessive burden on the pancreas. This beverage has a very high glycemic index that exceeds the index of pure glucose. Excessive beer consumption causes the release of large amounts of insulin by the pancreas. It should also be remembered that daily consumption of any alcoholic beverage, regardless of pure ethanol content, has unequivocally negative effects on the human body, including internal organs. And what about the non-alcoholic version? Does non-alcoholic beer harm the pancreas? Due to the negligible alcohol content not exceeding 0.5%, consuming such beverages does not pose a threat to the pancreas.

How Does Alcohol Harm the Pancreas?

The pancreas participates in alcohol metabolizing processes. Toxic products of ethanol conversion damage the cells of this organ. Enzymes also pose a problem, as they can activate already in the pancreas before reaching the digestive tract. This causes self-digestion and consequently further damage to this organ. The alcoholic's pancreas is also harmed by oxidative stress and free radical release during alcohol metabolic processes. These lead to the development of an inflammatory state and pancreatic pain after alcohol.

Which Alcohol Harms the Pancreas the Least?

Any alcohol harms the pancreas. As a rule, the greater the amount of consumed alcoholic beverages, the higher the risk of developing diseases of this organ. However, studies conducted by specialists indicate that some alcoholic beverages harm the pancreas more, and others less. Non-distilled alcoholic beverages are considered least harmful, namely beer, wine, and cider. Their consumption is associated with relatively lower risk of pancreatic pain after alcohol.

Symptoms of a Sick Pancreas After Alcohol

Pancreatic diseases caused by alcohol are alcoholic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

Alcoholic Pancreatitis

The risk of pancreatitis is higher the greater the average daily alcohol consumption and the time of its abuse. The acute form of this disease is a life-threatening condition. During its course, the following occurs:

• self-digestion of the pancreas and its surroundings

• necrosis

• irreversible organ damage

• perforation of blood vessels

• perforation of adjacent digestive tract walls

• development of a strong inflammatory reaction of local or generalized character.

As a result of the occurring changes, shock or multi-organ failure may occur, therefore mortality in acute pancreatitis is extremely high. Symptoms indicating the development of this disease are:

• severe and persistent pain in the epigastrium

• nausea

• vomiting that does not bring pain relief

• elevated body temperature

• weakening of intestinal peristalsis

• tenderness on palpation

• painful resistance in the epigastrium

• increased abdominal wall tension.

Alcoholic pancreatitis is often also accompanied by hypotension, which can lead to hypovolemic shock, cyanosis of the face and limbs, and bloody bruising in the umbilical area or lumbar region. Any alcohol can harm the pancreas.

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the world. The five-year survival rate for this disease is only 5%. In Poland, 8 out of 100,000 men and almost 5 out of 100,000 women develop pancreatic cancer. The first symptoms of this tumor are non-specific, which significantly hinders early proper diagnosis. It is this late detectability that is responsible for the high mortality. Depending on the structure and origin of cancer cells, three types of pancreatic cancer are distinguished:

• ductal pancreatic cancer

• acinar pancreatic cancer

• endocrine pancreatic cancer.

Early symptoms of this type of tumor are:

• lack of appetite

• rapid feeling of satiety

• weight loss

• discomfort and pain in the abdominal cavity

• nausea

• vomiting

• discolored stools

• dark urine

• skin itching

• pain radiating to the back or shoulder blade.

Pancreatic cancer may also be accompanied by diabetes, thrombophlebitis, and jaundice.

Pancreatic Cyst and Alcohol

A pancreatic cyst is a tissue-surrounded structure containing, as a rule, so-called pancreatic secretion. It can be located both outside and inside the gland. Two types of pancreatic cysts are distinguished – true and post-inflammatory, also called pseudocysts. A true pancreatic cyst usually does not cause any symptoms. Its detection most often occurs accidentally during an abdominal examination performed for another reason. Post-inflammatory cysts, formed as a result of acute pancreatitis, may in turn cause such symptoms as:

• feeling of discomfort in the abdominal cavity

• pain in the abdominal cavity

• nausea

• vomiting

• lack of appetite

• general weakness.

There is a direct relationship between pancreatic cyst and alcohol. Excessive consumption of this substance leads to acute or chronic pancreatitis, as a result of which the formation of pseudocysts may occur.

How Long Does the Pancreas Regenerate?

The pancreas has regenerative capacity. Areas of this gland affected by inflammation can regenerate within several weeks. However, the pancreatic regeneration process is disrupted as a result of alcohol exposure. This substance can also cause permanent, irreversible changes to occur in the pancreas that do not undergo regeneration, such as organ fibrosis, making it progressively less efficient. Read also: Consequences of Alcoholism – what does each glass take?

Diet for Pancreatic Regeneration

A diet supporting pancreatic regeneration should be rich in:

• natural products rich in complex carbohydrates – whole grain bread, pasta, and rice

• protein-rich products – poultry meat and lean beef, dairy products in the form of milk, kefir, yogurt, and low-fat cheeses

• vegetables, both raw and cooked and baked

• fruits except bananas and grapes, which are characterized by high natural sugar content that quickly converts into fatty tissue harmful to the pancreas.

In the pancreatic diet, limiting fatty food consumption is necessary. This means the need to completely give up sweet snacks such as chocolate, bars, cookies, and cakes. However, consuming jellies, fruit gelees, and fruit salads is permitted. In addition to maintaining an appropriate diet, proper medications prescribed by a specialist doctor may also prove helpful in eliminating the negative effects of dysfunction and pancreatic pain after alcohol.

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