When diverticulosis causes symptoms, bleeding, inflammation, or complications, doctors call this condition diverticular disease. Symptoms of diverticular disease may include constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or bloating. Diverticulitis most often causes abdominal pain, which is usually severe.
Experts are not sure what causes these conditions. Diverticula are small pouches that bulge outward through the colon, or large intestine. If you have these pouches, you have a condition called diverticulosis. It becomes more common as people age.
About half of all people over age 60 have it. Doctors believe the main cause is a low-fiber diet. Most people with diverticulosis don't have symptoms. Sometimes it causes mild cramps, bloating or constipation. Diverticulosis is often found through tests ordered for something else. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly.
Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Diverticular disease.
Accessed March 27, Diverticula, diverticulosis, diverticulitis: What's the difference? International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders. Mayo Clinic; Swanson SM, et al. In the clinic: Acute diverticulitis. Annals of Internal Medicine. Diverticulosis and diverticulitis. American College of Gastroenterology. Diverticulitis Support Group. Diverticulitis can be overwhelming and frustrating, so there's comfort in knowing you're not alone with this illness.
With an online support group, you can lean on others for diet and medication advice, or simply for emotional support, anytime of the day or night. If you have recurrent diverticulitis flares, monitoring what you eat can help pinpoint certain patterns.
Download the Simple Food Tracker Foodility diary and record everything you eat and drink. The app is free but only available for iOS devices on the App Store. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Reviewed: August 19, Medically Reviewed. No specific foods are known to trigger diverticulitis, but a low-fiber, high-animal-fat diet may increase your risk.
Can diverticulitis pain radiate to the back? Symptoms of diverticulitis include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and constipation or diarrhea. Pain often affects the lower left side of the abdomen, but it can radiate to the back, legs, groin, and side as well. Can diverticulitis heal itself?
Very mild diverticulitis may improve on its own without treatment. But even the mildest symptoms often require an antibiotic and over-the-counter pain relievers to treat the infection and inflammation, respectively.
What is the best treatment for diverticulitis? Your doctor may recommend oral antibiotics, pain relievers, and a liquid diet until your bowel heals. Slowly increasing your fiber intake can also improve symptoms. Severe or complicated diverticulitis may require hospitalization or surgery to treat an abscess, repair a rupture in the bowel wall, or remove diseased parts of the intestines.
What drinks should you avoid with diverticulitis? Drinking plenty of fluids can soften your stool, making it easier to pass. Aim for 6 to 8 cups of fluid per day. This can include water, tea, coffee, and fruit juice. Avoid carbonated drinks, which can cause bloating or gas and worsen symptoms of diverticulitis.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of diverticulitis, the Mayo Clinic notes that your doctor will likely take the following actions: 10 Gather information about your full medical history, including preexisting conditions and risk factors. Examine your abdomen to check for tenderness. Perform a rectal exam to check for rectal bleeding. Perform a blood test to check your white blood cells and determine if you have an infection.
Order a diagnostic test to get a picture of your colon and determine if diverticula are present and whether they are inflamed or infected. These are the most common tests used to diagnose diverticulitis: 10 CT Scan A CT scan uses both X-rays and computer technology to create three-dimensional images of your colon. Prognosis of Diverticulitis While some people with diverticulitis will require surgery, many can be treated at home. You are unable to take oral fluids. You have other existing health conditions.
The inflammation or infection you are experiencing is particularly severe. Medication Options According to the Mayo Clinic, in addition to a clear liquid diet , you may be prescribed these drugs: 12 Antibiotics Over-the-counter OTC pain relievers These broad-spectrum antibiotics are commonly used: 11 Metronidazole Flagyl Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim Bactrim, Septra Ciprofloxacin Cipro Amoxicillin and clavulanate Augmentin OTC pain relievers used to treat diverticulitis include Tylenol acetaminophen.
Diet Options Usually, a clear liquid diet is required to treat diverticulitis, notes the Mayo Clinic. Alternative and Complementary Therapies Some doctors recommend complementary supplements, such as glutamine an amino acid that aids in digestion , fish oil high in omega-3 fatty acids , flaxseed , and probiotics which help maintain intestinal health , according to an article published in the January-March issue of the Annals of Gastroenterology.
Prevention of Diverticulitis To help prevent diverticulitis , research suggests that getting enough fiber in your diet can help reduce the strain on the colon and prevent diverticula from forming and then becoming inflamed, according to MedlinePlus. Left untreated, diverticulitis can lead to life-threatening illness. How Diverticulitis Can Affect the Sigmoid Colon During the digestive process, the colon also called the large intestine or large bowel is responsible for absorbing liquid from food and breaking down any remaining material to move it to the rectum.
To keep your sigmoid colon healthy, take the same steps you would to prevent diverticulitis in the first place: 5 Exercise regularly. Get enough fiber in your diet. Stay hydrated. Black Americans and Diverticulitis According to research published in January in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology , there were about 30 hospitalizations for diverticulitis per , Black Americans between and Colorectal Cancer After hospitalization for diverticular disease, the risk for colorectal cancer , which affects the colon and rectum, may be elevated, according to an article published in October in the World Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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