Diverticulitis 101
Welcome to Diverticulitis 101!
The main focus of this site is on sharing
personal experiences of diverticulitis, but you can also find information on the
symptoms,
diagnosis, and
treatment of
diverticulitis, and ideas for a suitable
diverticulitis diet.
Please note: The information on this site has NOT been
written by a doctor and should not be used to replace medical
advice.
About diverticulitis
Diverticulitis occurs when small pouches bulge out from weak points
in the intestines, forming 'diverticula', which then become infected
or inflamed. It is sometime described as being similar to a balloon
of air bulging out of a bicycle tire.
The pouches alone, without any infection or inflammation are quite
common, and if you have just the pouches then you suffer from
diverticulosis.
If you have the pouches plus the inflammation or infection
then you have diverticulitis.
Approximately 10% of people in the US who are 40 or over suffer from
diverticulosis, and then around 10 to 25% of people who have
diverticulosis will go on to develop diverticulitis.
Diverticulitis causes
Most doctors think that diverticulitis is mainly caused by the
Western style of diet, which is generally low in fiber and has a lot
of processed and refined food, rather than healthier diets of
wholewheat, fruit and vegetables.
Low fiber diets often lead to constipation, and which in turn can
lead to straining, hard stools and higher levels of pressure in the
colon. More pressure then leads to weak spots in the intestines
which can become the bulges and pouches of diverticulosis.
The next stage of disease, diverticulitis, where the pouches become
inflamed or infected, may be caused by bacteria or pieces of stool
which are caught in the pouches. |