Let's learn about the pancreas - the silent worker of our body.

We all talk about some of the organs in our body all the time. We always think about things like the heart, lungs, and kidneys. But there is another one inside our stomach, a little hidden, that does a lot of very important work. That is the pancreas. Maybe you haven't heard this name much, or you have only heard it associated with diabetes. But in fact, this pancreas is a silent but indispensable worker in our body. So today, let's learn about this silent worker simply, as if we were talking to a friend.

What exactly is the pancreas?

Simply put, the pancreas is a large gland located behind our stomach, in front of our spine. It is part of our digestive system, as well as our endocrine system. Think of it like two factories working under one roof. These two factories produce two main types of products.

1. Enzymes: This is the part of the digestive system that produces special chemicals (enzymes) that help us digest the food we eat and break it down so that the body can absorb the nutrients.

2. Hormones that control blood sugar levels: This is the part of the hormone system. It is here that two very important hormones , insulin and glucagon, are made, which help keep the amount of sugar in our blood at the right level.

Let's look at the two main functions of the pancreas in a little more detail.

Let's now talk a little more in depth about the work of those two factories. Once you understand this, you will fully understand the value of the pancreas.

1. Aids in digestion

Imagine you are eating delicious rice. After that food enters your stomach, in order to generate energy from it, it needs to be thoroughly digested and broken down into tiny particles. This is where the pancreas helps.

The pancreas produces between 1 and 4 liters of enzyme-rich juice per day. This amount varies depending on the amount of food you eat. This is how it works:

• After you eat, the food goes into the stomach.
• Next, from the stomach, the food enters the duodenum, the first part of our small intestine.
• At this exact moment, the pancreas sends the enzyme juice it has made through small channels into the main pancreatic duct.
• This main duct joins the bile duct, which carries bile from our liver.
• Finally, these pancreatic juices and bile combine and enter the duodenum, where they begin to properly break down and digest the proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in the food we eat.

Without this process, we cannot digest food or obtain nutrition from it.

2. Hormone production and blood sugar control

This is another very important job of the pancreas. Every cell in our body needs energy to function. That energy comes from glucose, which is simply sugar. But the amount of sugar in the blood should neither increase nor decrease. It should be kept at exactly the right level.

This is where the two hormones insulin and glucagon help.

• If blood sugar increases: When we eat a sweet food, our blood sugar level increases. At that time, the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin and releases it into the blood. Insulin takes the excess sugar and puts it into the body's cells, helping them produce energy. Then, the blood sugar level returns to normal.
• If your blood sugar drops: When we go a long time without eating, our blood sugar levels can drop. At that time, the pancreas produces a hormone called glucagon. Glucagon releases sugar (glycogen) stored in our liver back into the blood, bringing our blood sugar levels back to normal.

Only when this balance is right can our major organs like our heart, liver, kidneys, and brain function properly.

Shape and parts of the pancreas

The pancreas is about 6 inches long, which is about the length of your arm. It's shaped a bit like a pear. One end is fat, the other end is thin. The outside is bumpy, like a corn cob. It weighs about 90 grams, about the size of a deck of cards.

The pancreas can be divided into four main parts.

What diseases can affect the pancreas?

When the pancreas malfunctions, various diseases can occur. Some of these may be things you are very familiar with.

What are the symptoms that can identify a pancreatic problem?

Pancreatitis can cause a variety of symptoms. If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor for advice.

• Severe pain in the upper abdomen, sometimes spreading to the back
• Back pain
• Blurred vision
• Dark-colored urine or light-colored, oily stools
• Fatigue
• Excessive thirst or the need to urinate frequently
• Nausea or vomiting
• Numbness in the limbs
• Weight loss for no reason
• Yellowing of the eyes and skin (Jaundice)

How to check the health of the pancreas?

Because the pancreas is located so deep inside our abdomen, it is difficult for a doctor to tell if there is a problem with it just by touching it. Therefore, various tests have to be performed to determine its exact condition.

• Blood tests: Check things like pancreatic enzyme levels and blood sugar levels.
• Abdominal Ultrasound: Obtaining and examining images of the abdominal organs.
• CT Scan: A cross-sectional image of the body to examine the pancreas and surrounding organs.
• MRI scan: Uses a magnetic field to take detailed pictures.
• Endoscopic Ultrasound: A close-up examination of the pancreas using a small camera-equipped tube (endoscope) inserted through the mouth.
• ERCP or MRCP: Specialized tests to look for things like blockages in the pancreas and bile ducts.
• Fecal test: To check whether the pancreas is producing enough digestive enzymes.

In some cases, it may be necessary to perform surgery to take a sample (biopsy) of the pancreas for testing.

Things we can do to keep the pancreas healthy

It is our responsibility to take good care of this silent worker of ours. A few simple lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of pancreatic diseases.

• Maintain a healthy weight: Controlling your weight and exercising regularly can help prevent gallstones, which can lead to type 2 diabetes and pancreatitis.
• Reduce fatty foods: High-fat foods can lead to gallstones and the risk of pancreatic cancer. Therefore, stick to a healthy, balanced diet .
• Control your alcohol intake: Excessive alcohol consumption is a major cause of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. It is very important to limit or completely stop alcohol consumption .
• Avoid smoking completely: Tobacco use, including smoking cigars, significantly increases the risk of pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.
• Get regular medical checkups: By seeing your doctor regularly and getting medical checkups, you can identify early signs of pancreatic diseases.

Is it possible to live without a pancreas?

Yes, it is possible to live without a pancreas. But it is not easy. If the pancreas is surgically removed (pancreatectomy), you will need to take enzyme pills to help digest food and insulin injections to control your blood sugar for the rest of your life. The entire pancreas is usually removed in cases of pancreatic cancer, a serious accident to the pancreas, or severe pancreatitis.

So, now you understand how valuable and indispensable the pancreas is in our body. Therefore, take care of it and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Then our silent worker will be able to continue his duties without any problems.