6 Causes of Pancreas Does Not Work Properly
The pancreas is one of the glands in the body that looks flat and has a length of about 6 inches. It is located at the back of the abdomen.
The pancreas head is on the right side of your abdomen and is connected to the small intestine through the pancreatic duct while the end of the pancreas is certainly on the left side of your body.
The pancreas plays an important role in the digestive system.
The Functions of Pancreas
There are two main functions of pancreas :
1. An exocrine function
The pancreas has an exocrine gland that secretes various enzymes essential for digestion. Among others are :
- Trypsin and chymotrypsin for the digestion of proteins
- Amylase to digest carbohydrates
- Lipase to digest fats
2. An endocrine function
The endocrine gland in the pancreas is responsible for regulating blood sugar. The endocrine gland composed by the islet of Langerhans secretes two important hormones into the bloodstream. They are :
- Insulin that serves to lower blood sugar
- Glucagon that serves to raise blood sugar
Although the human body needs sugar as an energy resource, it has been a common knowledge that there are dangers from excessive sugar consumption
The Symptoms of a Person who Has a Pancreas Does Not Work Properly
- Experiencing pain in the middle and lower abdomen
- Often feel nausea and vomiting
- There is a change in skin color and the whites of the eyes become yellowish
- The color of the stool turns dark and oily
- Experiencing a decrease in body weight
- Have a prolonged fever
- Often feel tired, thirsty, weak and lethargic
- Have a decrease in blood pressure and pulse rate
The Causes of Pancreas Does Not Work Properly
There are several common causes we need to pay attention. They are :
1. Smoking
Smoking has many adverse health effects. One of them is smoking will damage pancreatic cells and trigger the occurrence of pancreatic cancer later in life. Therefore the best option is to stop smoking. But you also need to know how to get rid of side effects of quitting smoking.
2. Alcohol
Drinking alcohol in the long run can cause pancreatic inflammation and malfunction of the bile tissue. The inflammation can cause damage to pancreatic cells and trigger the occurrence of pancreatic cancer. Reduce or stop drinking alcohol will be a wise move. Just in case, it’s a good idea to learn how to get sleep during alcohol withdrawal
3. Bad Diet
Poor eating habits can cause damage to the pancreas. For example the habit of eating foods that contain saturated fats, high calories and high protein. These foods will injure the pancreas and cause pancreatic inflammation.
4. Genetic Disorders
If one of the parents or both of them have a history of pancreatic disease then most likely the disease will be passed on to the offspring. Even so, as long as a person can maintain his/her health with a good diet, not smoking and not drinking alcohol, then the genetic risk can still be minimized.
5. Age
A person with age more than 40 years should be more careful with his lifestyle and eating habits. At that age a person is susceptible to pancreatic problems because pancreatic cells begin to weaken naturally.
6. Obesity
Obesity is one of the most common causes of pancreas does not work properly. The accumulation of fat in the body can extend towards the pancreas thus suppressing blood flow leading to the pancreas and disrupting the performance of the pancreas. Since obesity also happens to mid age women, you must read tips for weight loss during menopause.
Heals the Pancreas
Even though we have seen several causes of pancreas does not work properly, fortunately there are some plants that have been used traditionally to treat pancreatic problems. Among others are :
1. Fingerroot Leaves
Fingerroot has essential oils that contain camphor, sineol, methyl cinnamate, pinostrolerin, resin, saponin, flavonoids, hydromirsen and alpnetin. All of these compounds can relieve inflammation of the pancreas, restore the performance of pancreatic cells and protect the pancreas from bacterial or fungal infections.
The use of fingerroot leaves is as follows:
- Grab a handful of fingerroot leaves
- Wash them with running water
- Boil in three cups of water
- After the water remaining one cup, turn off the fire
- Filter the boiled water
- Drink the boiled water twice a day
2. Heart-Leaved Moonseed
Heart-leaved moonseed contains a bitter healing compound called pikroretin. In addition, it also contains alkaloids, resin, pikroretosid glycosides, hars, alkaloids berberin and palmatin. These compounds can overcome pancreatic problems.
The use of heart-leaved moonseed leaves is as follows:
- Grab three heart-leaved moonseed stems and a handful of heart-leaved moonseed leaves
- Wash them with running water
- Boil in five cups of water
- After the water remaining two cups, turn off the fire
- Filter the boiled water
- Drink the boiled water twice a day
3. Noni Fruit
Noni fruit can relieve inflammation in the pancreas, accelerate the recovery of damaged pancreatic cells and restore pancreatic function that is disturbed by cancer or tumor. Noni fruit contains potent compounds against the growth of cancer cells and bacterial infections.
Such compounds include xeronine, steroid plant, lycine, caprylic acid, arginine, proxeronine, antraquinines, terpenoids, scolopetin.
4. Soursop Leaves
Soursop leaves are traditionally used to treat pancreatic problems because it can boost immunity, prevent inflammation, and inhibit the buildup of saturated fats. Soursop leaves contain acetogenins, annocatecin, annociacin, annocatalin and annomuricin.
The use of soursop leaves is as follows:
- Grab ten sheet of soursop leaves
- Wash them with running water
- Boil in five cups of water
- After the water remaining two cups, turn off the fire
- Filter the boiled water
- Drink the boiled water twice a day
5. Mangosteen Peel
Mangosteen peel has been used for a long time to overcome pancreatic problems. The mangosteen peel has xanthone, tannin, beta margositin, garcinon, mangostorol, flavonoid epicatechin, gartanin and trapezifolixanthone. These compounds have the ability to repair pancreatic cells damaged by cancer, cure pancreatic inflammation and treat bacterial infections in the pancreas.
The use of mangosteen peel is as follows:
- Take 100 gram of dried mangosteen peel
- Wash with running water
- Boil in three cups of water
- After the water remaining one cup, turn off the fire
- Filter the boiled water
- Drink the boiled water twice a day
It’s undisputed that health is priceless. We need to do whatever it takes to maintain our body including the health of pancreas. Hopefully this information will help you live the healthy life.