If you’ve been diagnosed with diverticulitis then you’ve been forewarned about consuming certain foods, advised to increase certain foods and (probably) recommended to closely monitor your condition, daily. There is much to learn about this condition; what it is, when it occurs, how to treat it.
What is diverticulitis? It starts in the colon where a small sac called the diverticulum pushes out from the colon. More than one sac pushing out becomes referred to as “diverticula” typically occurring on the left end of the colon called the “sigmod colon”. Once a sac ruptures, the condition becomes “diverticulitis”, infecting the tissues around the colon. The condition is then referred to as “diverticular” disease.
What causes this disease? As we age, our intestinal walls thicken causing our colon to become more narrow, increasing stress and pressure. Continuous, increased strain and stress are thought to cause this condition. Mostly common in countries where processed carbohydrates and low fiber diets dominate the culture (i.e. USA) and not as common in countries where high fiber diets are mostly consumed (i.e. Africa, Asia). The exact cause is not completely known, but appears to be related to unhealthy diets.
Who is at risk? As we age, so does our body. If we’re abusing our body through our diet (i.e. processed foods versus whole foods) then we’re increasing the possibility of disease. Constipation is the enemy of this disease, as well. Those most likely at risk are over 60 years of age, consuming low fiber diets and high processed carbohydrate diets. There’s a good chance (10-25%) that diverticulitis will develop as a result of diverticular disease.
How to avoid (as much as possible) diverticulitis? Eating fruits, vegetables, legumes (dried beans, lentils, peas), whole grains are highly recommended. Both soluble (forms a gel like substance in the digestive tract) and non-soluble foods (goes unchanged during digestion) help to move the digestive process along. Having a balance of healthy soluble and non-soluble foods is important for our digestive system to perform properly, producing soft stools while avoiding the possibility of constipation.
Symptoms of diverticular disease:
*Cramping, constipation and diarrhea. Only 20% or less of those with diverticular disease might show symptoms prior to detection.
*Bleeding colon, pus in the pelvis, a ruptured diverticulitis are all possible symptoms.
Treatment:
*Only a doctor can determine the treatment of this disease. It is possible that the diverticula may have to be surgically removed. If you have unexplained abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever and/or vomiting see a doctor immediately. A barium x-ray, CT scan, and/or ultrasound are various ways in which this condition can be detected and properly diagnosed.
*Antibiotics and anti-spasmodic drugs are often prescribed to treat both the (possible) infection and symptoms (cramping).
What to avoid? Nuts and seeds are thought to be an irritant to this condition. While our body needs non-soluble foods to help the digestive system perform, diets high in fiber are recommended.
To learn more about this condition visit Medicinenet.com (http://www.medicinenet.com/diverticulitis_diverticulosis_pictures_slideshow/article.htm), also a source for this blog.
Quick Tip for Wellness: Never ignore unexplained medical symptoms; your body is talking to you, so learn to listen.
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