The Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker was rushed to hospital on Tuesday (June 28) suffering from pancreatitis.
Barker, 46, was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, where he was accompanied by his wife Kourtney Kardashian.
The reason for Barker’s hospital visit was originally unknown. However, according toTMZ, sources connected to the family confirmed his attendance was due to an inflamed pancreas, which doctors believe was triggered by a colonoscopy.
The same day he was rushed to hospital, the frontman tweeted, “God save me”.
Following the news Barker’s daughter Alabama also took to social media, sharing a post on her Instagram stories, that said: “Please send your prayers.”
But what is pancreatis, and, what are the symptoms? Here’s everything you need to know...
What is pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis is an inflamation of the pancreas, which is a large gland behind the stomach, close to the first part of the small intestine.
The pancreas has two main functions: to create insulin and to make digestive juices or enzymes, in order to aid you to digest your food.
These enzymes digest food inside the intestine, however, pancreatitis happens when these enzymes damage the pancreas, causing inflammation.
It can be acute or chronic, either of which can lead to serious complications.
Acute pancreatitis occurs suddenly and is a short-term condition. Most people with this illness recover quickly, and it goes away with treatment. However, some people can have a more serious form of the illness, which could require a lengthy hospital stay.
Chronic pancreatitis is a long-lasting condition, where the pancreas does not heal or improve. Instead, it become worse as time goes on, and it could lead to lasting damage.
What are the symptoms of pancreatitis?
Acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis usually starts with pain that:
- begins slowly or suddenly in your upper abdomen
- sometimes spreads to your back
- can be mild or severe
- may last for several days
Other symptoms may include:
- fever
- nausea and vomiting
- fast heartbeat
- swollen or tender abdomen
Chronic pancreatitis
Most people with chronic pancreatitis:
- feel pain in the upper abdomen, although some people have no pain at all.
The pain may:
- spread to your back
- become constant and severe
- become worse after eating
- go away as your condition gets worse
People with chronic pancreatitis may not have symptoms until they have complications.
Other symptoms may include:
- diarrhea
- nausea
- vomiting
- weight loss
What causes pancreatitis?
The most common causes of both acute and chronic pancreatitis are gallstones, heavy alcohol use, genetic disorders of the pancreas, and some medicines. Other causes can include infections, such as viruses or parasites, injury to the abdomen, pancreatic cancer, an endoscopic retrograde procedure, or pancreas divisum.
