Located under the diaphragm, the pancreas plays a major role in digestion with the secretion of pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes. But this essential gland in the body also has an important function in regulating blood sugar. Thus, in the event of pancreatic dysfunction, several symptoms may appear: weight loss, jaundice, pain in the epigastric region. How to recognize them?
What is the role of the pancreas? Definition
The pancreas is a gland located behind the diaphragm, the proper functioning of which is essential to the body, specify the University Hospitals of Geneva. It has an exocrine function and an endocrine function. Its exocrine function consists of producing gastric juice rich in digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, trypsin). These digestive enzymes participate in the breakdown of sugars, fats and proteins. The pancreas is therefore a major player in digestion. It also plays an endocrine function, thanks to the secretion of hormones such as insulin or glucagon, responsible for regulating the level of sugar circulating in the blood (glycemia). We therefore understand how essential a healthy pancreas is for the body.
Among the most common dysfunctions of the pancreas, we find pancreatitis, acute or chronic, which is an inflammation of the pancreas, and pancreatic cancer (pancreatic adenocarcinoma). These pathologies result in characteristic clinical signs, which however are sometimes only perceptible at a very advanced stage of the disease. This is the case of pancreatic cancer, a pathology which develops silently and is only discovered in 90% of cases at a stage where curative surgery is no longer possible. informs the French National Society of Gastroenterology (SNFGE). Still according to this same source, there are 14,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer per year in France.
Symptom of pancreatic pathology: jaundice
Jaundice is one of the signs that should alert you and raise suspicion of pancreatic cancer. This yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, accompanied by dark urine and light-colored stools, is the consequence of an inability for bile to evacuate from the liver to the intestines. This impossibility is most often due to the presence of a tumor which obstructs the circulation of bile in the bile duct, informs the Foundation for Cancer Research (Arc). The bile then flows back into the blood and gives this yellow color to the skin and the whites of the eyes.
Pancreas problem: abdominal pain
The MSD Manual states that in 85 to 90% of cases, pancreatitis is accompanied by abdominal pain, with abdominal distension and flatulence. These pains are located in the epigastrium region. They occur occasionally in the early stages, with a peak in intensity after meals (postprandial pain), then persist over time. They can radiate into the back. This pain can be partially alleviated if you adopt a sitting position with a straight back or if you opt for a lean-forward torso.
Greasy diarrhea in case of pancreatic problem
In case of pancreatitis, in other words in case of inflammation of the pancreas, there is a reduction in the quantity of digestive enzymes present in the pancreatic juice. The digestion of lipids, proteins and sugars is therefore slower and incomplete. This is called malabsorption, informs the MSD Manual. This results in large stools in terms of volume, with a greasy appearance, or even with the presence of oil droplets (steatorrhea) on the surface. These stools are generally pale in color, prone to diarrhea and smelly.
Rapid and significant weight loss: is it a malfunction of the pancreas?
Malfunctions of the pancreas often result in large stools with a diarrheal consistency, which results in massive and rapid weight loss.
Consequence of pancreatic dysfunction: high blood sugar (diabetes)
The endocrine function of the pancreas aims to regulate blood sugar levels through the production of hormones, such as insulin (hypoglycemic hormone) or glucagon (hyperglycemic hormone). In the event of pancreatic dysfunction following acute or chronic pancreatitis, the regulation of blood sugar levels may no longer be carried out correctly, and an excessively high blood sugar level may appear (diabetes). This hyperglycemia can be discovered accidentally during a blood test, or following significant thirst with frequent urination and fatigue.
Sources
- Chronic pancreatitisThe MSD Manual, March 2022
- Pancreatic cancers: symptoms and diagnosisCancer Research Foundation (ARC), December 13, 2023
- Symptoms of pancreatic cancerCanadian Cancer Society
- The pancreasVaud university hospital center, September 6, 2021
- Diseases of the pancreas and spleenGeneva University Hospitals, January 4, 2022
- Pancreatic cancerFrench National Society of Gastroenterology, July 2019
- Pancreatic cancer, League against cancer – SwitzerlandSeptember 21, 2020