Are There Warning Signs Your Pancreas Is In Trouble?

Stomach aches and bowel problems can be uncomfortable. There’s often no quick and obvious answer to what’s causing them. One possible cause is the pancreas.

This organ is located deep in the abdomen and has many important functions, including the production of insulin to maintain stable blood sugar levels. But when something goes wrong, pain in the center of the body can be the body’s way of alerting you.

If you feel that something is wrong, you should not immediately suspect pancreatic cancer because many other reasons can signal problems that require a visit to the doctor. Below are the warning signs that something is wrong with your pancreas.

1. The strange appearance of the stool

If you notice that your stool is light in color and floats in the water in the shell, this is a sign of poor absorption of nutrients, which may mean that your pancreas is not doing its job.

Enzymes produced by the pancreas help digest dietary fat. The pancreas also helps the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins such as A, E, and K. When the pancreas doesn’t produce these enzymes properly, stools can be pale, loose, and greasy, Men’s Health reports.

2. Abdominal pains

Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms of both pancreatic cancer and acute pancreatitis. But this pain manifests itself in different ways, depending on the underlying condition.

According to Dr. Andrew Handifar, if the pain seems to start in the middle and then move to the lower back, and if it lasts for weeks, it could be a sign of pancreatic cancer.

“If the pain comes on suddenly, is intense, and is centered in the middle of your abdomen, the problem could be acute pancreatitis,” he says.

3. Sudden changes with diabetes

If you have diabetes and suddenly find it difficult to manage it, the problem may be in your pancreas.

“Sudden changes in diabetes status with no apparent explanation are often one of the links to pancreatic cancer,” notes Dr. Hendifar.

Namely, as mentioned, the pancreas produces hormones that help control the production of insulin in the body, as well as blood sugar levels.

4. You feel nauseous after eating fatty food

Nausea and vomiting are symptoms to watch out for, especially if you’ve eaten greasy food. Because the pancreas produces enzymes that help the digestive system break down fat, diseases that affect the pancreas tend to interfere with the body’s ability to digest fat, leading to nausea.

That’s why hamburgers, as well as avocados, nuts, and pizza, are foods that are difficult for patients with a compromised pancreas.

5. Losing weight

If you’re losing weight and not dieting, but at the same time you’re experiencing pain that radiates from your mid-abdomen to your back, it could be related to pancreatic cancer or disease, says Dr. Hendifar.

Thyroid problems and some other medical conditions can also explain rapid weight loss.

6. Jaundice

Yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes are signs of jaundice, which can also be a symptom of pancreatic cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Dark-colored urine is also a common symptom of advanced cancer. In any case, seeing unusual shades of yellow should signal you to see a doctor as soon as possible.