Digestive Issues That Worsen in Monsoon – What Pancreatic Patients Should Watch For

The summer may have interminably saturated your being with scorching temperatures, but the monsoon brings a much-appreciated relief, with the cool rain and wind instantly creating a sense of calm. During the monsoon, there can be an increase in digestive health issues. For pancreatic patients - people living with either pancreatitis, pancreatic insufficiency, or in recovery of pancreatic cancer, the rainy season can bring problematic digestive issues.

It isn't a stretch of the imagination that many individuals suffering from issues with the pancreas may also be dealing with a compromised immune system and increased susceptibility of infections, which during the monsoon can always be a flare-up for the digestive system. If you have pancreatitis or pancreatic insufficiency, understanding how these weather changes impact your digestion is vital to getting better symptom control and helping you manage your overall health. This blog will help explain why digestive issues can become more problematic during the monsoon as well as help a pancreatic patient to stay calm and healthy.

Why does Digestion Become More Issue During the Monsoon?

Monsoons create a unique mix of environmental factors, humidity and usually abrupt temperature change together provide the ideal cultivation ground for potential bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Additionally, the risks of getting an infection during the monsoon are increased by the presence of contaminated water and food, improper washing of fruits and vegetables and the nature of the rainy season foods that do not have a long shelf life. 

For improvement of swelling from either malabsorption because of decreased enzyme production or inflamed enzymes producing fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, the pancreas has already compromised the digestive system. Digestive stressors are compounded further during the rainy season because the digestive system's ability to fight off bacterium, viruses, and parasites is in a somewhat "depressed state." Here is what we see more of during monsoon season:

• Acid Reflux/Indigestion
• Loose stools and or diarrhea (continues if infection starts) or as some adorable individual called it "the Monet"
• Bloating or abdominal discomfort
• Nausea/vomiting 
• Fat malabsorption (this may worsen in the case of pancreatic insufficiency)

Pancreatic Health and Monsoon- The Connection

The pancreas is often overlooked and under-appreciated for its importance in digestion. The pancreas, because of its important enzyme activity, breaks down fat, proteins, and carbohydrates into smaller molecular structures as the body facilitates the digestion process.When the pancreatic function is impaired due to inflammation, surgery, or tumors, the process of digestion is compromised. 

Unfortunately, this situation is even more daunting during the monsoon season.

The primary risks faced by pancreatic patients during monsoon season include:
 

1. Increased Infection Rate

Stomach infections are much more prevalent during monsoons because of contaminated water or food consumption. Stomach infection potentially leads to dehydration, major weakness, and extreme flares for pancreatic patients.
 

2. Blood Glucose Changes 

For patients with pancreatic diabetes (Type 3C diabetes), the humid weather and decreased activity may have a great impact on blood glucose fluctuations that may promote digestive symptoms.

3. Reduced Pancreatic Enzyme Activity 

The high humidity levels and difficulty preserving food may lead to difficulty in digestion.

If the activity of pancreatic enzymes is impaired, undigested food may pass through the digestion tract intact leading to bloating, gas or oily stool. 

Top Digestive Complaints during Monsoons that Pancreatic Patients Should Be Aware Of

1. Bacterial Diarrhea 
Infection with bacteria from street food or not washing produce properly creates bacteria that can infect the stomach.  For those who are taking enzyme replacement therapy or have recently undergone surgery, the symptoms of illness and diarrhea can worsen quickly.

2. Pancreatic Pain or Flares 
Some patients may have a higher rate of abdominal discomfort with the cold and dampness or triggers of pancreatitis pain with dietary slip-ups or infections.


The monsoon will worsen pancreatic insufficiency:

While food is slower to be digested, there will be a reduced absorption of dietary fat, Statorrhea  (oily stools), potential weight loss and deficiency of micronutrients will occur.Acid Reflux

Insufficient capacity for digestion can lead to undigested food accumulation and backward movement of acids from the stomach into the esophagus. This is even worse with monsoon-related food like fried snacks, spicy food, etc.

Monsoon Diet Precautions for Pancreatic Patients

To avoid digestive complications during monsoon, pancreatic patients need to have a disciplined diet, and lifestyle modifications. Some precautions are:

1. Avoid raw food or outside food

Please eat only home-cooked food and ensure there are no salads, chutneys or juices from restaurants. Fungi and bacteria thrive in food left at room temperature or in improperly steamed or uncooled food items during monsoon.

2. Follow a low-fat and high-fiber diet

A lower fat intake means less demand and pressure on the pancreas. Steamed vegetables, boiled lentil items, tolerable soft fruits banana or apple, as well as whole grains all should be included as a part of your diet.

3. Be safe when drinking fluids

Only take boiled or filtered drinking water. Avoid ice cubes knowing nothing about who made them or how they were sterilized. Herbal teas, cumin water, or tender coconut water (after consultation with your doctor) may be helpful and help restore digestion.

4. Correctly use pancreatic enzymes

You will most likely either be or be advised to be on pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, which you should use with each meal and enjoyable small snack to digest food properly and reverse bloating or gas discomfort.

5. Eat several small meals

Eating large meals stresses the pancreas, especially during the monsoon. Therefore, please consider the benefit of eating four to five small meals throughout the day instead.

6. Recommend probiotics

You may also want to consider if adding more curd or buttermilk (from boiled milk) or what your doctor considers probiotic pills may help you improve gut balance and decrease infections.

Monsoon Lifestyle Tips to Help Digestion

• You can still try and stay active and light yoga helps keep your metabolism.
• Don’t sleep immediately after eating.
• Please always try to freshly cook food. Sometimes reheating also gives problems to cooling down oily foods.
• Wash fruits and vegetables with salt or vinegar in the water.
• Don’t drink alcohol or smoke  they increase pancreatic inflammation.

When Should Pancreatic Patients Schedule Seeing a Doctor?

Be alert and seek immediate action with observations such as:

Severe abdominal pain; persistent vomiting or diarrhea; fever with digestive distress; a dietary measure could recuperate or wean off your post-exercise weight gain, and weight loss. If you see any of these symptoms  or even blood. You can ignore your symptoms becomes hospitalized. Symptoms spread quicker regarding the monsoon.

Stay Safe This Monsoon - Consult Experts at GEM Hospital

This monsoon doesn't have to be a nervous time for pancreatic patients. With the right precautionary measures and awareness of timely checks, you will be able to manage and mitigate digestive complications during monsoon. 

GEM Hospital, specializes in pancreatic care, offers exceptional treatment for digestive issues in the pancreas, diet check learning counseling, and advice on using pancreatic enzymes.

Got digestive trouble facing this monsoon? Make an appointment today with GEM Hospital before you understand your personal digestive symptom to help stay infection free from monsoon rains.