Cystic fibrosis is a rare inherited condition that can develop into chronic pancreatitis and is often diagnosed in childhood. This disorder causes gluey mucus to plug ducts in the pancreas, preventing digestive enzymes from entering…

The food you eat is broken down into sugar (glucose) and sent to your bloodstream. When your blood sugar rises, the pancreas releases insulin, which your cells use as energy. When you have diabetes, your…

Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas that lasts several days. The condition is primarily caused by alcohol abuse and gallstones that block the common bile duct (the tube that transports bile from…

Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term condition that gradually destroys the pancreas. This inflammation causes the organ’s cells to malfunction and become permanently damaged.

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect because the pancreas is deep in the abdomen and can't be felt when pressed. It can also grow undetected for a long time and lack symptoms. Sometimes symptoms don’t…

The gallbladder is a lemon-sized sac tucked under your liver. It stores bile secreted by the liver, which then flows into the small intestine for fat digestion. If something slows down the stream of bile…

Your esophagus is a crucial part of your gastrointestinal tract and the process of digestion. Commonly called the food pipe, it is an eight-inch long, muscular tube that serves as a conduit between your throat…