Valerie A. Gustave, MD, MPH, attending physician, Gotham Medical Associates, talks about acute pancreatitis, which is currently the leading GI diagnosis that admits people to the hospital. Heavy drinkers and people with gallstones are most commonly at risk, though there are many prophylactic measures for these common causes such as minimizing or eliminating alcohol consumption, and talking to your doctor about a family history of gallbladder disease.

Individuals with the Greatest Risk Include:

1. Heavy drinkers or alcoholics

2. People with gallstones

3. Individuals with familial hereditary pancreatitis