当您的胰腺无法制作或释放足够的消化酶时，外分泌胰腺功能不全（EPI）会出现。

This leaves undigested food in your intestines and causes gut pain, bloating, and diarrhea. Severe EPI can cause fatty, loose stools and weight loss frommalnutrition.

各种条件可能导致EPI，包括：

您的医生可能会首先建议饮食和生活方式改变以减轻您的症状，而不论您的EPI的根本原因。

如果您患有严重的EPI或进行了消化道手术，您的医生将开处方以取代胰腺通常释放的酶。

尽管无法治愈EPI，但您的医生将与您一起寻找可以缓解症状，治疗任何潜在疾病的治疗方法，并最终改善您的生活质量。

以下是一些可以帮助治疗和管理EPI的药物：

Prescription medications

The pancreas releases digestive enzymes, such as amylase, lipase, and protease into the small intestine. These enzymes are necessary for proper digestion. Since the pancreas isn’t producing enough of these enzymes, you might benefit from pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT).

PERT可以取代酶，并帮助您从吃的食物中吸收营养。您的医生将根据病情的严重程度决定剂量。

您将在每顿饭或小吃开始时服用胶囊，从不空腹。您的医生或营养师将解释如何以及何时服用。为了有效，必须完全按照您每次吃饭时的处方服用。

如果您在服用PERT时遭受胃灼热问题，您的医生可能会添加质子泵抑制剂（PPI）以减少胃酸。

PPIs work by reducing the amount of acid the glands in the lining of your stomach produce. Not everyone on PERT needs PPIs.

非处方药（OTC）药物

If you tend to get mild heartburn, you might not need a prescription-strength PPI. These medications are available over the counter under names such as esomeprazole (Nexium) and lansoprazole (Prevacid).

Your gastroenterologist may recommend a specific OTC product in a particular dose. You can also ask your pharmacist for recommendations.

有一些无需处方的胰酶替代补充剂。这些补充剂的一致性和效力各不相同。

If you have EPI, you should avoid OTC pancreatic enzyme replacement supplements.

如果您确实决定尝试它们，请务必与您的医生交谈，以便他们确切知道您正在考虑的补充。该信息可以帮助您的医疗保健提供者根据您的医疗状况确定补充剂是否适合您。

Your doctor can prescribe PERT, if necessary, and you’ll have the added benefit of medical supervision as you try to improve symptoms.

In the past, EPI was treated with a low fat diet .

Low fat diets are no longer recommended because they can make weight loss worse. A low fat diet also makes it more difficult for your body to absorb the vitamins that dissolve in fat.

相反，您的医生可能建议您吃健康的脂肪。

健康脂肪中发现:

  • 坚果
  • 种子
  • 植物油
  • fish

You should avoid hard-to-digest and highly processed foods, especially those containing hydrogenated oils or large quantities of animal fat.

Eating too much fiber can also tax your digestive system. Eating frequent, smaller meals and avoiding large, heavy meals will make it easier for your gut to break down fats and proteins.

每个人都不同，因此可能需要一些时间才能找到最适合您的饮食。您可能希望咨询营养师，以了解有关计划健康，负担得起的餐点和减轻您的EPI症状的更多信息。

EPI会干扰您身体从食物中吸收营养的能力。这可能会影响您摄入脂溶性维生素A，D，E和K。您可能需要服用饮食补充剂。

If you’re on PERT, however, you may be able to get all the nutrients you need from a proper diet without supplements.

Also, some supplements can interfere with OTC or prescription medications. Your gastroenterologist may recommend very specific vitamins and minerals in precise amounts.

Be sure to talk with your doctor before taking dietary supplements.

Talk to your doctor about potential lifestyle changes to improve your symptoms of EPI. The following are some steps you can take to improve your quality of life with EPI:

  • 保持健康的饮食。根据医生的建议保持均衡的饮食。如果您需要帮助开始，请考虑与营养师一起工作。
  • Avoid alcohol.Alcohol can harm your pancreas. If you have trouble avoiding alcohol, talk to your doctor about how to quit safely.
  • Quit smoking.Smoking is associated with pancreatic conditions such as pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. If you smoke, ask your doctor for information on smoking cessation programs.
  • Exercise regularly.常规运动可以促进您的整体健康。向您的医生询问最适合您的练习。
  • Relieve stress.您不能完全消除压力，但是您可以学习应对的方法。尝试深呼吸练习，瑜伽或太极拳。

而且，它总是有助于做好准备。您可以做一些事情来教育自己有关EPI并为任何情况做好准备：

  • Learn all you can about EPI.
  • Keep a food journal to figure out which foods trigger symptoms or make matters worse.
  • Partner with your doctor by reporting new or worsening symptoms right away.
  • Have loose-fitting clothing on hand for when you feel bloated or have pain.
  • 保持处方的最新状态，并保留您的药物。如果您在佩尔特（Pert），请务必在离开家时随身携带一些。

Almost 一半的人 treated with enzyme replacement therapy don’t fully return to normal fat digestion. This can happen for a number of reasons, including incorrectly taking your enzyme replacements or doses that are too low.

Acid imbalances in the gut or germ overgrowth in the intestines can also prevent the therapy from working.

If your treatment isn’t working, your doctor may need to change your treatment plan.

Changes could include:

  • 增加酶剂量
  • 处方质子泵抑制剂
  • treating you for germ overgrowth in your intestines

如果您的症状仍然没有改善，您的医生可能会评估您的EPI以外的其他状况。