Diverticulitis And Diverticulosis

Diverticulitis and Diverticulosis

Diverticulitis is a condition in which diverticuli in the colon rupture. The rupture results in infection in the tissues which surround the colon. The colon is the large intestine and is a long tube like striation that stores and then eliminates waste material. As a person gets older, pressure within the colon causes bulging pockets of tissue, or sacs, that push out from the colon walls. A small bulging sac pushing outward from the colon wall is called a diverticulum. More than one bulging sac is referred to as diverticula. Diverticula can occur throughout the colon, but most are common near the end of the left colon. This is referred to as the sigmoid colon. The condition of having these diverticula in the colon is called diverticulosis.

Many people have small pouches in their colons that bulge outward through weak spots, similar to an inner tube that protrudes through weak places in a tire. Each pouch is called a diverticulum, or diverticula. The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulitis. About 10 percent of Americans over the age of 40 have diverticulosis. The condition becomes more common as people age. About half of all people over the age of 60 have diverticulosis. When the pouches become infected or inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis. This will occur in 10 to 20 percent of people with diverticulosis. Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are also called diverticular disease.

Most people with diverticulosis do not have any symptoms or discomfort to speak of. However, symptoms may include bloating, mild cramps, and constipation. Other diseases including irritable bowel syndrome and stomach ulcers cause similar problems. Because of these symptoms it is not an automatic indicator that a person has diverticulosis. Visiting a doctor for a diagnosis is very important if one is having these troubling symptoms. The most common symptom of diverticulitis is abdominal pain. The most common sign is tenderness around the left side of the lower abdomen. If infection is the cause, constipation, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, and cramping may occur as well. The severity of symptoms depends on the extent of the infection and complications.

It has not yet been proven that a low fiber diet is the main cause of diverticular disease. The disease was first noticed in the United States in the early 1900’s. Around the same time, processed foods were introduced into the American diet. Many processed foods contain low fiber and refined flour. Refined flour, as opposed to whole wheat flour, has no wheat bran, therefore, no fiber. Fiber is the part of fruits, vegetables, and grains that the body is unable to digest. Some fiber dissolves easily in water, called insoluble fiber. Both kinds of fiber help make stools soft and easy to pass. Fiber also helps to prevent constipation. Constipation makes the muscles strain to move stool that is too hard. It is the main cause of increased pressure in the colon. The excess pressure may cause the weak spots in the colon to bulge out and become diverticula.

News About Diverticulitis Rochester writers (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) 7 Mar 2010 at 2:12am Bruce Bennett writes a novel that joins people from many cultures; RIT graduate David S. Kidder contributes to a book on health. Have Your Steak and Eat It, Too (The Cornell Daily Sun) 4 Mar 2010 at 9:17pm Sometimes I try to be a public servant. And no ? that was not a typo ? there was meant to be an ?l? in ?public.? Therefore as my duty to my gender and all that is hol(e)y, I must inform, promote and encourage others to observe the most under-appreciated, under-celebrated (and hopefully not undercooked), holiday of the year. Expert gives talk to seniors on healthy eating (Wilton Bulletin) 3 Mar 2010 at 9:08pm March is National Nutrition Month and on Wednesday, March 10, at Ogden House, Elaine Abrams will remind us that good diet habits are particularly important for older adults. Why? Because diet plays a vital role in disease prevention and management as we age. Top 5 Ways to Get More Fiber (ABC News) 1 Mar 2010 at 7:11am Dr. Marie Savard on how to improve your health by increasing your fiber intake. Business - Fiber - Textiles and Nonwovens - Telecommunications - Equipment Doc says, eat your fibre (North Island MidWeek) 1 Mar 2010 at 1:08pm By Paul G. Donohue, M.D. Bulletin Board: March 1, 2010 (The Saratogian) 1 Mar 2010 at 2:17am Auxiliary to meet tonight Mailbag: Where does Cain stand? (Yahoo! Sports via Yahoo! Sports) 23 Feb 2010 at 11:02am Fans are buzzing about Cain Velasquez's stunning knockout of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Cain do: Velasquez vaults to the top (Yahoo! Sports via Yahoo! Sports) 21 Feb 2010 at 1:02am Cain Velasquez's win topped off a memorable evening in the UFC's Australian debut. Cain Velasquez knocks out Nogueira (Canada.com) 22 Feb 2010 at 7:17am If there was anyone who didn't believe Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight star Cain Velasquez was the real deal before UFC 110 on Saturday night, those doubts have certainly been erased. Health Department acts on poor conduct (The Olympian) 21 Feb 2010 at 11:44pm The Washington State Department of Health has taken the following actions regarding health care providers in South Sound. Diverticulitis Books & Resources Diverticulitis: Safe Alternatives Without Drugs Thorsons Natural Health Diverticulitis: Safe Alternatives Without Drugs Thorsons Natural Health (The Self Help Series) (Paperback) By Arthur White 15 used and new from $4.92 Customer Rating: First tagged "diverticulitis" by Any Mouse Coping with Diverticulitis Coping with Diverticulitis (Overcoming Common Problems) (Paperback) By Peter Cartwright Buy new: $12.04 13 used and new from $9.85 Customer Rating: First tagged "diverticulitis" by Sandra Bracken Garden of Life Primal Defense HSO Probiotics Formula, Caplets, 180-Count Bottle Garden of Life Primal Defense HSO Probiotics Formula, Caplets, 180-Count Bottle (Health and Beauty) By Garden of Life Buy new: $44.99 Customer Rating: First tagged "diverticulitis" by Matthew Berg