DIVERTICULITIS SYMPTOMS INFO

DIVERTICULITIS SYMPTOMS

Diverticulitis symptoms should be of special interest to Americans especially if you’re over the age of 40 because at least 10 percent of those individuals have diverticulosis. A friend of mine recently told me that they suffer from diverticulitis. I asked her what diveriticulitis symptoms did she have? She told me there was more discomfort than usual coming from her abdominal area. Within this site, I will cover; the definition of diverticulitis, what are the causes of diverticulitis, and what complications arise from diverticulitis and its symptoms. My goal with digestive disorders is possibly relieve symptoms of these associated health problems.

What are diverticulosis and diverticulitis?

Many people have small pouches in their colons that bulge outward through weak spots, like an inner tube that pokes through weak places in a tire. Each one of these pouches is called a diverticulum. Pouches plural are called diverticula. The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulosis. Diverticulosis becomes more common as people age. As a result, 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 happens in 10 to 25 percent of people with diverticulosis. Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are also called diverticular disease.

What causes diverticular disease?

Although its not proven, the dominant theory is 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. Interestingly enough, at about the same time, processed foods were introduced into the American diet. Many of these processed foods contain refined, low-fiber flour. Unlike whole-wheat flour, refined flour has no wheat bran.

Diverticular disease is common in developed or industrialized countries like the United States, England, and Australia where low fiber diets are common. However, this disease is rare in countries like Asia and Africa, where people eat high-fiber vegetable diets. As a result, diverticulitis symptoms occur more often in the industrialized countries.

Fiber is the part of fruits, vegetables, and grains that the body cannot digest. Some fiber dissolves easily in water ( soluble fiber ). It takes on a soft, jelly like texture in the intestines. Some fiber passes almost unchanged through the intestines ( insoluble fiber ). Both kinds of fiber help make stools soft and easy to pass. Fiber also prevents constipation. Constipation makes the muscles strain to move stool that is too hard. It is the main cause of increased pressure in the colon. This excess pressure might cause the weak spots in the colon to bulge out and become diverticula. Diverticulitis symptoms are in conjunction with a lack of fiber in your diet.

Diverticulitis occurs when divericula become infected or inflamed. Doctors are not certain what cause the infection. It may begin when stool or bacteria are caught in the diverticula. An attack of diverticulitis can develop suddenly and without warning.

What are the complications of diverticulitis?

· Bleeding- bleeding from diverticula is a rare complication. When diverticula bleed, blood may appear in the toilet or in your stool. Bleeding can be severe, but it may stop by itself and not require treatment. Doctors believe bleeding diverticula are caused by a small blood vessel in a diverticulum that weakens and finally bursts.

· Infections- The infection causing diverticulitis can get worse and an abscess may form in the colon. An abscess is an affected area with pus that may cause swelling and destroy tissue. Sometimes the infected diverticula may develop small holes, called perforations. These perforations allow pus to leak out of the colon into the abdominal area. A large abscess can become a serious problem if the infection leaks out and contaminates areas outside the colon. Infection that spreads out of the colon into the abdominal cavity is called peritonitis. Peritonitis requires immediate surgery to clean the abdominal cavity and remove the damaged part of the colon. Without surgery, peritonitis is fatal. Peritonitis is the end result of not recongnizing diverticulitis symptoms fast enough.

· Abnormal Connection- A fistula is an abnormal connection of tissue between two organs or between an organ and the skin. When damaged tissue comes into contact with each other during infection, they sometimes stick together. If they heal that way, a fistula forms. When diverticulitis related infection spreads outside the colon, the colon’s tissue may stick to nearby tissues. The organs usually involved are the bladder, small intestine, and skin. Think about this for a minute, if you could identify what diverticulitis symptoms were and acted on it, chances are a fistula would not have formed.

· Intestinal Obstruction- The scarring caused by infection may cause partial or total blockage of the large intestine. When this happens, the colon is unable to move bowel contents normally. When the obstruction totally blocks the intestine, emergency surgery is needed.

What are diverticulitis symptoms?

The most diverticulitis symptom/s is abdominal pain. The most common sign is tenderness around the left side of the lower abdomen. If infection is the cause then the list below will help you:

· Fever

· Nausea

· Vomiting

· Chills

· Cramping

· Constipation

Diverticulitis symptoms are a piece of the puzzle in trying to identify a form of digestive disease that affects millions of people worldwide. More will be covered on this disorder in great detail.

DISCLAIMER

The information provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practioner/ patient relationship with its readers. The publisher does not advise or recommend to its readers treatment or action with regard to matters relating to their health or well being other than to suggest that readers consult appropriate health-care professionals in such matters. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication. The information and opinions provided herein are believed to be accurate and sound at the time of this publication based on the best judgment available to the authors. However, readers who rely on information in this publication to replace the advice of health-care professionals, or who fail to consult with health-care professionals assume all risks of such conduct. The publisher isn’t responsible for errors or omissions. The Food and Drug Administration have not evaluated these statements. These products aren’t intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This content was created September 16, 2003 and modified February 2, 2004

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