Diverticulosis

Diverticulosis - a condition where small pouches (diverticula) develop along the digestive tract, become inflamed and bulge in and outward of the walls of the passages.

Diverticulosis Causes

Most doctors agree that a low-fiber diet causes Diverticulosis (diverticular disease). Processed foods are also thought to be one of the main causes of Diverticulosis.

Diverticulosis is common in developed or industrialized countries where eating habits have gone away from home-cooked meals to processed and unhealthy foods that are lower in fiber. Low-fiber diets often result in constipation, causing people to strain when passing stool, straining the colon, which may cause the colon lining to bulge out (diverticula) through weak spots in the colon wall.

Diverticulosis Symptoms

• Cramps and pain
• Discomfort in the lower abdomen
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Tenderness in the lower left side of the abdomen
• Severe and sudden pain or, mild and worsening pain over several days
• Nausea, vomiting, fever, chills

Diverticulosis Diagnosis

• Abdominal ultrasound - sound waves are sent toward the colon through a handheld device, using the patterns of the sound waves to determine the presence of Diverticulosis
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan - a non-invasive x-ray that produces cross-section images of the body, helping diagnose signs of diverticulitis such as perforations and abscesses

Diverticulosis Treatment

People typically start by altering their diet to include more fiber-rich foods. If simple rest and a fiber-rich diet does not help, there are a number of recommended medications and antibiotics. Sometimes the patient goes on a liquid-only diet to relieve the symptoms.

If the non-invasive treatments do not help relieve diverticulitis, surgery is an option. Diverticulosis surgery requires a hospital stay and a lengthy recovery period.