Diverticular Disease

• Diverticula (singular: diverticulum) are small pouches or sacs formed on the wall of the colon.
• The size of a diverticulum can range from one tenth of an inch to more than an inch in diameter. A giant version can range from 1 to 6 inches in diameter (i.e. 2.54 to 15 cm).
• When these pouches pose no discomfort, the condition is called diverticulosis but when they become inflamed, the condition is now called diverticulitis.
• Some people with diverticulosis experience no symptoms at all while others have pain in the lower left side of the abdomen, bloating, flatus, constipation or diarrhea.
• Diverticulitis can develop anywhere on the colon but usually along the left side of the colon just before the rectum named the sigmoid colon. As the muscle wall of the colon thickens with age, so leads to the rising of the pressure within colon as it seeks to fulfill it’s elmination functions. In the course of time this drives the inner intestinal lining outwards through the muscle wall creating diverticula. Undigested food and bacteria housed within the diverticula can cause bleeding, inflammation and infection. In serious cases when the walls of the pouches are torn, fecal matter flow out and infection spreads to the abominal cavity.
• Symptoms of diverticulitis include lower abdomen pain, nausea, fever, cramps, constipation or diarrhea and rectal bleeding.
• Diverticulitis is usually treated with antibiotics to reduce inflammation, stool softeners and a liquid diet.
• Diverticular disease is linked to a low-fiber diet. Increase fiber intake now to avoid any problems with this disease.
• It is common with middle-age folks and increases with age.

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