Experiencing chest or abdominal pain can be scary. Many different serious conditions start with chest pain, so it can make your mind race thinking about what it could mean. Thankfully, we are here to help!

Pancreatitis can cause upper abdominal pain and can be very serious if left untreated. Whenever an organ in the body is inflamed, it can cause significant discomfort and potential complications. If you are wondering what pancreatitis feels like, our AFC Urgent Care Bronx Webster Ave. team tells us below!

What Is Pancreatitis?

Your pancreas produces enzymes that help break down the food that you eat, and it also helps regulate your blood sugar. When it gets irritated somehow, it can become inflamed and fail to function properly. Common reasons for this irritation are overuse of alcohol and gallstones.

When this happens, you can experience pain in your upper abdomen that radiates to your back. The pain could appear suddenly or over the course of a couple days. It can also get worse right after you eat or drink, especially if it was a food with a high fat content.

Pancreatitis Warning Signs

• Severe upper abdominal pain
• Pain that radiates to your back
• Fever
• Tenderness when touching the abdomen

Can Pancreatitis Be Dangerous?

If you do not seek treatment for your pancreatitis, it could be dangerous or even deadly. You could wind up with a severe infection, kidney failure or pancreatic cancer. It can also lead to chronic pancreatitis that could affect the way that your body digests food.

Serious cases of pancreatitis require a hospital stay to recover from. You will most likely be monitored, given fluids and evaluated often to make sure you are recovering safely. If you fail to change up your lifestyle like reducing your alcohol intake or cleaning up your diet, you are at risk of developing a chronic issue.

Reduce Your Risk of Pancreatitis

• Reduce your alcohol intake.
• Quit smoking.
• Manage diabetes.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise.

Abdominal pain should always be taken seriously. Come see us at AFC Urgent Care Bronx Webster Ave. for an initial evaluation.