Benchmark II Medical-Surgical Nursing Practice Test

Chronic hyperparathyroidism raises calcium levels in the blood, and high calcium is a recognized trigger for pancreatitis. The excess calcium can promote premature activation of pancreatic enzymes and injury to the pancreatic tissue, leading to inflammation even without alcohol use. Explaining this helps a patient understand a nonalcoholic pathway to the disease. Regular exercise or a low-fat diet do not cause pancreatitis, and while smoking is a risk factor, the nonalcoholic metabolic cause highlighted here is hyperparathyroidism-driven hypercalcemia. Treating the underlying hyperparathyroidism is important to prevent future episodes.