Diverticular Disease

	What are Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
	What are the Symptoms
	What are the Complications
	What causes Diverticular Disease
	What is the Treatment for Diverticulosis
	What is the Treatment for Diverticulitis
	When is Surgery necessary

What are Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis

Many individuals develop small pouches in their colons that press outwards through weak points. These pouches are called Diverticula. Developing Diverticula is called Diverticulosis. The condition becomes more common with aging and affects approximately 50 percent of all people over the age of 60.

Diverticulitis develops when the Diverticula become infected. This occurs in 10 to 25 percent of people suffering from Diverticulosis. Diverticulitis and Diverticulosis are commonly grouped together as Diverticular Disease.

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What are the symptoms

Diverticulosis

Most people with Diverticulosis may not exhibit any discomfort or symptoms. For those who do exhibit symptoms however, these may include cramps, bloating, and in some cases constipation. Other conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Stomach Ulcers can cause similar symptoms, so these do not necessarily point to Diverticulosis. Should these symptoms appear, seek medical advice.

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Diverticulitis

The most frequent symptom of Diverticulitis is pain in the abdomen, usually tenderness around the lower left side. If infection has set in, additional conditions such as fever, nausea, vomiting, cramping, and constipation may occur. The intensity of these symptoms will depend on the magnitude of the infection and complications.

What are the complications

Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis can lead to more serious complication such as bleeding, infections, perforations, or blockages. These complications require medical treatment to prevent them from degenerating into serious illness and medical advice should always be sought should any of these complication appear.

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What causes Diverticular disease

Diverticular Disease first appeared around the same time that processed foods appeared on the markets in the early 1900’s. These processed foods such as refined low-fiber flour contain no wheat bran and are low in fiber. This lead to the theory that Diverticular Disease is caused by a low fiber diet.

The disease is common in industrialized countries where low-fiber diets are the norm. Fiber is that part of fruits, grains and vegetables that the digestive system cannot process and which passes though the intestines almost unchanged. Fiber makes our stools soft and easier to pass and prevents constipation. If constipation occurs, the additional straining necessary to pass a stool causes excess pressure on the weak spots of the colon, which may cause these to develop into Diverticula. If these Diverticula become infected, the condition degenerates into Diverticulosis. This can occur without any warning and degenerate very quickly.

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Treatment for Diverticulosis

Adding additional fiber to the diets can help to reduce the symptoms of Diverticulosis and prevent complications. Adding fiber to the diet makes stools softer preventing constipation and lowering the pressure in the colon. A fiber intake of 20 to 35 grams is recommended. The table below shows fiber content for some common foods which can easily be added to our daily diet.

Avoiding nuts and kernels such as popcorn or seeds like sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, and sesame, is often recommended by physicians, as these foods could irritate the Diverticula. This however has not been scientifically proven.

Use of plant extracts such as Aloe Vera has also been shown to provide relief for many individuals suffering from Diverticulosis. This is due to the soothing effects Aloe Vera has on the Diverticula and inflammations.

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Treatment for Diverticulitis

Treatment for Diverticulitis focuses on eliminating the infection and inflammation and resting the colon. Antibiotics may also be prescribed in a Diverticulitis attack which is not accompanied by any complications. Bed rest, mild pain killers and a liquid diet may be prescribed to allow the colon to rest. Acute cases of Diverticulitis usually require hospital admittance and a course of antibiotics along with a liquid diet.

Use of plant extracts such as Aloe Vera has also been shown to provide relief for many individuals suffering from Diverticulitis. This is due to the soothing effects Aloe Vera has on the Diverticula and inflammations.

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When is Surgery Necessary

In the attacks become frequent and do not respond to antibiotics and liquid diets, surgery may be required. During the surgery (Colon Resection) the infected portion of the colon is removed and the remaining sections re-joined. This type of surgery aims to remove the infected portion of the colon, preventing the condition from spreading and lessening the frequency of attacks and the associated painful symptoms.

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