Diverticular Disease: Symptoms, Causes And Required Diet

What Is Diverticular Disease

A large number of the population possess small pouches in their colon that tend to bulge outward through weak spots. Each of these pouches is known as a diverticulum and the condition of possessing these pouches is called diverticulosis. These pockets or pouches have a tendency to get inflamed and infected, and when they do so the condition is referred to a diverticulitis.

Most people who suffer from this condition do not suffer terrible discomfort and some of the symptoms include bloating, mild cramping, diarrhoea, a change in bowel habits and constipation. These symptoms are, however, similar to diseases such as stomach ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome, hence it is necessary to consult your health care provider in order to diagnose the condition before beginning a course of treatment. In case the condition is aggravated, the patient may suffer from tenderness around the lower abdominal region, fever, nausea, cramping and chills may also occur. In case there is blood in the stool, it may mean that a tiny blood vessel in the diverticulum has weakened and finally burst and this will require you to consult your doctor immediately. If the bleeding does not stop, surgery may be required.

Diet For Diverticular

Experts believe that the cause for this condition is a low fiber diet and hence it is more common in industrialized nations such as U.S.A, Britain and Australia. It is not very common in Asia and Africa where the population is used to a high fiber vegetable diet. Legumes, whole grains, figs, prunes, cooked or stewed vegetables, root vegetables and green leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce and broccoli are excellent sources of fiber. Fiber is essential to make the stool soft and enable it to pass out of the body easily. This is important as constipation can cause an increased pressure upon the colon and weak spots in it may bulge out and the patient is likely to develop diverticula. When the stool or bacteria are caught in the diverticula, it may cause an infection and attacks of diverticulitis are known to occur without any warning. An obstruction that occurs in the narrow opening of the diverticulum may reduce the supply of blood to the area and cause the infection as well. Some doctors in the past believed that seeds, nuts and popcorn got caught in the diverticula and caused the inflammation, but recent studies have discounted this factor. Ageing which results in the loss of strength and a loss of elasticity of the bowel walls are possible risk factors accompanied by significant weight gain and a lack of exercise.