Alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis
Alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis is permanent, long-term scarring of the pancreas caused by heavy, repeated alcohol use that prevents it from digesting food properly.
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Your pancreas is a small, leaf-shaped organ located behind your stomach that performs two vital jobs: it creates chemicals called enzymes to help you digest food and makes hormones like insulin to manage your blood sugar. When you drink too much alcohol over many years, it causes the pancreas to become inflamed, meaning it swells up and gets irritated.
Over time, this repeated swelling leads to permanent scarring of the organ tissue, a process doctors call fibrosis. Because of this scarring, the pancreas loses its ability to function correctly, which makes it very hard for your body to break down nutrients and process sugar, eventually leading to permanent damage.
Common Symptoms
- Constant or recurring pain in the upper middle belly that may travel to your back.
- Fatty, foul-smelling, or light-colored bowel movements.
- Unexplained weight loss because your body cannot absorb nutrients from food.
- Nausea and vomiting during flare-ups.
- High blood sugar levels that can lead to diabetes.