During the holidays, the average American consumes more than 80 pounds of sugar every year (30 teaspoons a day), and a large percentage of this is consumed during the month of December. The sight of food can stimulate insulin production, which encourages fat deposits. The endocrine system (your hormonal system) has a profound effect on weight balance. Many people continue to face sudden issues with their pancreas after the holidays, which may not just be a coincidence. Most people don’t know that this is the most important organ to the human body. It often goes unnoticed, until a problem occurs.
The pancreas is part of the digestive and endocrine system. It is connected to the first portion of the small intestine and secretes enzymes directly into the intestines to digest sugars and fats. The endocrine function of the pancreas is to secrete insulin and other hormones to regulate glucose levels and fat deposition. If the pancreas is not making much insulin, it will cause high blood sugars. Problems with the pancreas usually are the result of two things – pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
Physicians Regional Medical Group’s Gastroenterologist, Dr. Badar Muneer, M.D., explains that pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas. “The most common causes are heavy alcohol drinking and gallstones coming from the gallbladder. Pancreatitis causes severe pain and sometimes it can severely damage the pancreas and can be very serious.”
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. Most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer are upper abdominal pain, jaundice, and weight loss. Pancreatic Cancer can typically be diagnosed with imaging studies and doing biopsy with endoscopic ultrasounds. The treatment of pancreatic cancer is based on the stage of the cancer and usually involves a team approach including gastroenterologists, surgeons, oncologists, and radiologists.
According to one of Physicians Medical Group’s General Surgeons, Dr. Jonas Mansson, M.D., there is no known direct cause of pancreatic cancer. There are risk factors that increase your chance of developing pancreatic cancer. Some of these risk factors can be modified and some cannot.
Dr. Mansson explains that the top risk factor that can’t be modified is family history. “Inherited gene mutations can be passed down to children and thus we do see some pancreatic cancers run in families. If there is a family history of pancreatic cancer, the genetic testing may be beneficial.”
Modifiable risk factors include:
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Chronic Pancreatitis (Often caused by smoking or alcohol abuse)
Smoking cessation is the single most important modifiable risk factor. Over the holidays it is important to limit alcohol consumption and limit simple sugars and fatty foods. These stimulate the pancreas to release enzymes and put it into overdrive. It also increases the risk of obesity and diabetes.
Don’t forget to incorporate regular exercise through the holidays. Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy as options during your festive family meals. Development of unintentional weight loss, chronic abdominal pain, jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes) or pancreatitis should trigger a visit to a health care professional. It is always important to seek medical attention when something doesn’t feel right with your body.
pancreas to release enzymes and put it into overdrive. It also increases the risk of obesity and diabetes.
Don’t forget to incorporate regular exercise through the holidays. Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy as options during your festive family meals. Development of unintentional weight loss, chronic abdominal pain, jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes) or pancreatitis should trigger a visit to a health care professional. It is always important to seek medical attention when something doesn’t feel right with your body.
Dr. Jonas Mansson, M.D. and Dr. Badar Muneer, M.D. are located conveniently at
Physicians Regional- Pine Ridge Medical Office Bldg. 6376 Pine Ridge Rd.,
Naples, FL 34119.
To schedule an appointment with either physician, please call 239-348-4221 or visit PhysiciansRegionalMedicalGroup.com.