Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas usually caused by alcohol abuse, gallstones, autoimmune conditions, cystic fibrosis, a blocked or narrowed pancreatic duct due to trauma or the formation of pseudocycts (accumulation of fluid or tissue debris) or heredity. A small percentage of pancreatitis has no known cause. It can be acute, occurring suddenly and lasting a short period of time, or chronic, which means it lasts much longer or indefinitely and causes a slow destruction of the pancreas. Both acute and chronic pancreatitis is more predominant in men than women. It is reported that nearly 70 percent of all pancreatitis cases are due to alcoholism.

The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach that is responsible for secreting enzymes into the small intestine to help digest fats, proteins and carbohydrates in food. It does this via the pancreatic duct. The enzymes become active once they have reached the small intestine. Pancreatitis is caused by the duct being blocked due to damage, causing the enzymes to become active while still inside the pancreas, resulting in the pancreas digesting itself. In very extreme cases there may be infection and bleeding or the enzymes or toxins may enter the bloodstream and cause damage to other organs, such as the kidneys, lungs and heart. Nearly 20 percent of reported cases are severe.

The most common symptom of pancreatitis is abdominal pain, whether mild or severe. Other symptoms may be swelling in the abdomen, fever, rapid pulse, nausea, vomiting, dehydration and low blood pressure. Those with chronic pancreatitis sometimes lose weight due to poor digestion.

Diagnosis can be made through blood tests which show high amounts of the digestive enzymes lipase and amylase. There may also be other changes to blood levels. To locate gallstones, inflammation and pseudocysts, a doctor may use a CAT (computerized axial tomography) or an ultrasound.

Sometimes pancreatitis can improve on its own, but oftentimes doctors will need to administer intravenous fluids or oxygen, prescribe pain relievers, antibiotics or pancreatic enzymes to help the body digest food. In other instances, pancreatitis will worsen to the extent that it may become a disabling condition. And on this basis, a person may file for social security disability. Insulin or other drugs may help control blood glucose and in some cases surgery may be involved to either drain the duct or remove a damaged part of the pancreas. Doctors advise those with pancreatitis to eat a healthy diet low in fat and high in carbohydrates. They also must abstain from alcohol or other toxic substances or drugs.