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Pancreatitis: the signs, when to get help right away, the causes, the tests, and treatment
For anyone with pain in the upper belly that spreads to the back; anyone just told they have acute or chronic pancreatitis, or that gallstones or alcohol caused it; anyone whose lipase or amylase came back high; and anyone caring for someone in the hospital with it. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, part of the NIH) says pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas; that it can be acute, coming on suddenly, or chronic, lasting and getting worse over time; and that either form is serious. This page passes on, by name, what NIDDK says: the signs and when to seek care right away, the two kinds and the causes, the tests, alcohol, smoking and food, and treatment. It builds the words to say to a doctor, and prints a card to keep.
Right now
- Severe pain in the belly, or pain that is getting worse, or belly pain with vomiting, fever or chills, a fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, or yellow skin or eyes? NIDDK says to seek care right away. Ours: go to the emergency room now.
- Trouble breathing, fainting, confusion, vomiting blood, or no safe way to get there: call 911 (ours). Do not drive yourself.
- Drinking a lot every day and want to stop? NIDDK strongly advises stopping alcohol with pancreatitis. Stopping all at once can make you very sick: ask a doctor or a free helpline to help you stop safely (ours). Free, private help.
More help
- The belly, on this site: Gallstones · Peptic ulcers · Gastroparesis · Fatty liver disease · An upset stomach: find the right page.
- The conditions that go with it: Diabetes · High cholesterol · Heart, blood and hormones: find the right page.
- Day to day: When drinking or drugs are a problem · Quit smoking · Food help · My medicines list.
- Care and costs: When you need a doctor and can’t pay · When a medical bill is too much · Get ready for your appointment.
- In a crisis: Help right now (988, 911). All our free tools.
An upset stomach, and not sure this is the right page? The pages on this site for throwing up, diarrhea, heartburn and constipation, on one list.
This page and its wording were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast (our AI policy). No doctor or nurse has reviewed it. The facts were read on October 17, 2026 on NIDDK’s Pancreatitis pages (NIH): the overview, Definition & Facts, Symptoms & Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment and Eating, Diet, & Nutrition (last reviewed November 2017). Ours: going to the emergency room now for the signs NIDDK says need care right away; calling 911 for trouble breathing, fainting, confusion, vomiting blood, or no safe way to get there, and not driving yourself; that stopping heavy daily drinking all at once can make you very sick, so get help to stop safely; not stopping or changing a prescribed medicine on your own; not waiting out the same pain at home if you have had pancreatitis before; that no one deserves to be judged for having it; the questions to ask before you leave the hospital or a visit; health centers when money is tight; and the order of the steps. What we left out: brand names, the names and doses of medicines, research studies, and clinical pages for providers. This page saves nothing and loads no trackers.