Diverticulitis - Diverticulosis Resources

Outcome of younger patients with acute diverticulitis.

2008-06-19T11:43:00.000-07:00

There is controversy over whether patients presenting with a primary attack of acute diverticulitis at a younger age are more prone to complications and recurrence than older patients.

METHODS: A review, including postal questionnaires, was undertaken of 234 patients who had a primary episode of acute diverticulitis. The diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography (CT) and/or pathology report. The mean length of follow-up was 30 (range 16-45) months. RESULTS: In 58 patients aged 50 years or less no differences in fever or white blood cell count were found in comparison with findings in 176 patients aged above 50 years. The rate of severe diverticulitis observed with CT was lower in the younger patients (2 versus 11.9 per cent; P = 0.025). Surgical management during the first admission was undertaken less commonly in younger patients (2 versus 6.8 per cent; P = 0.271). Rates of subsequent events (recurrent diverticulitis and/or further surgery) during follow-up were higher in younger patients (25 versus 19.5 per cent), but this was not significant (P = 0.423). A type II error cannot be excluded.

CONCLUSION: First episodes of acute diverticulitis were not more aggressive in patients aged 50 years or less. Recurrence rates were slightly higher than in older patients. 2008 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Division of Surgery, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Diverticulitis Diet

2008-06-11T14:08:00.000-07:00

The diet which needs to be followed by the patient of Diverticulosis depends on the kind of sever condition of the patient. The attack that is faced by the patient of Diverticulosis can be very serious or a very easy one. A medical dietitian expert wills than advice you to take a proper planned diet. This diet depends on the health records of the patient in the history.

The doctors also say that there is very less percentage of the patients whose condition will become more serious. It is also said to move from diverticulosis into diverticulitis in scientific terms. The primary disease which is called diverticulosis has the symptoms that on the small intestine of the patient some pouches start appearing. The small intestine is also known as colon. The later stage is known as diverticulitis. This stage is marked by the entrance of external materials. The entrance takes place in the pouches which are accumulated on the small intestine.

Those few patients who fall into the category of diverticulitis can also be cured. The doctors suggest these patients to be taking a very light diet, which is low in fiber. These patients are also advised to take sufficient amount of rest. These patients also have to take sufficient antibiotics. In case the condition of the patient becomes more and worse; he must be taken to the hospital immediately. This will help the patient to recover quickly. This will also help the patient to become healthy again.

Sometimes the patient condition becomes worse. The patient should be very careful about his health. He should be taking proper diet. His diet should be very low in fiber and must have plenty of liquid and water. The diet must contain various essential things such as fresh fruit and vegetable juices. The doctor also advices the patient to take diary products such as milk and curd .Some of the non-vegetarian patients are also advised to take boiled meat and eggs. Raw vegetables should also be consumed in a good quantity in the form of salad. The vegetables such as potatoes, eggplant, cucumber must also be included in the diet. All the cereals must be consumed.

The patient must also take proper rest to recover as soon as possible. This will help the patient to regain his health. A proper diet must also be followed in order to recover soon. A very nutritious diet must be followed in order to be healthy again.

Read out for more Diverticulitis treatment and Serovera.

What causes it?

2008-06-05T06:45:00.000-07:00

Over a lifetime, it's estimated the human gut digests more than 65 tonnes of food and drink. Much of this food will be low in fibre, putting the gut under strain.
One common outcome of this is diverticular disease, a condition affecting the large bowel, or colon, believed to be the result of too little fibre in the diet.
A diet low in fibre creates the ideal conditions for constipation to develop. When this happens, the pressure in the large part of the gut increases, which forces small parts of the gut lining outwards through the muscles surrounding the gut. This causes the lining to form small balloon-like pouches called

Who's affected

About one in two adults over 50 is affected, and most adults are affected by the time they reach 90. Men and women are affected equally.
Diverticular disease is very uncommon in countries such as Africa, where diets are high in fibre. In Western countries, where many people still don't eat enough fibre, it becomes more common as people get older.

How's it diagnosed

Unless the diverticula become inflamed, many people won't have any symptoms. They may only become aware they have diverticular disease when it's found by chance during tests for another problem.
Under these circumstances, to prevent future problems developing, it's advisable to increase the amount of fibre in the diet to avoid constipation.

What are the symptoms?

For many people, the diverticula don't cause any problems, but some people may need emergency surgery because the diverticula become inflamed.
When the diverticula are not inflamed, symptoms tend to come and go. Episodic cramping, abdominal pain, bloating and excess wind are common.
These are often accompanied by a change in normal bowel patterns, with constipation or diarrhoea, or both, alternating.
Dietary advice to increase the amount of fibre is essential. Increasing fluid consumption, becoming more active and always responding to your body's bowel movement signals lessen the chance of constipation.
Antispasmodic medication, peppermint tea and painkillers are recommended for use when needed.

What is diverticulitis?

Infection in the diverticula, possibly caused by an impacted piece of faeces, is responsible for the inflammation that develops. When this happens - called diverticulitis - the pain is very severe and usually felt in the lower left side of the abdomen.
A person will often feel feverish and have nausea and vomiting. They may pass blood rectally.
Someone with diverticulitis may be treated at home with painkillers, antibiotics, laxatives and dietary advice. But diverticulitis is often severe, and can need hospital treatment with antibiotics and fluids given through a drip.
In some cases, the bowel may perforate, become obstructed or bleed heavily. When this happens, the situation becomes an emergency and an operation may be needed.

Do you drink enough water?

2008-06-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

A person could live without food for about a month, but only about a week without water. Water is crucial to your health making up around 60 per cent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. Lungs expel two to four cups water each day through breathing. If your feet sweat, there goes another cup. If you make half a dozen trips to the bathroom, that’s six cups. A person would have to lose 10 per cent to be considered dehydrated.

Signs and symptoms of dehydration:

Excessive thirst, fatigue, headache, dry mouth, little or no urination, muscle weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness

Advantages of drinking water:

Lessens kidney stones, keeps joints lubricated, and lessens colds and flu. Keeps digestive system and colon health in order.

Water helps to flush out poisons (chemicals, additives, junk food). Without water, contents of the colon dry out, eventually causing diverticulitis and constipation.

Natural remedy for a beautiful rich glowing skin. Acts as a body purifier by removing toxins and waste. Skin needs water for elasticity, so too little leaves it looking dry, wrinkled and dull.

People mistake thirst to be hunger and fatigue. Drink for energy and vitality. Keeps headaches at bay and fights infections.

Blood transports oxygen to muscles for activities. Lack of oxygen in blood creates lactic acid, causing cramps. Water helps keep blood pumped with oxygen.

A healthy hydrated body removes waste with light yellow urine. Dark urine is more concentrated and waste products linger in the bladder, leaving you prone to cystitis and kidney infections.

Water helps to flush out poisons (chemicals, additives, junk food). Without water, contents of the colon dry out, eventually causing diverticulitis and constipation.

When you are felling puffy before a period, drinking plenty of water is the best treatment to prevent fluid retention.

Bad breath is a classic sign that you need to boost your water intake. Lack of water dries the mouth, leads to furry tongue and prevents bacteria from being washed away.

You need to drink two liters of water, which is approximately eight glasses everyday, to keep your system hydrated.

Diverticulitis Therapies and Treatment

2008-05-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

Diverticulosis is a state in which minute pocket; called diverticula, stick out as of the intestinal wall. The majority of the occasion diverticulosis is of slight outcome; other than in 10 percent to 25 percent of cases, one or more of these small bags will turn out to be reddened or contaminated, a circumstance called diverticulitis. Diverticulosis and diverticulitis characteristically have an effect on the colon health - most frequently the sigmoid colon, an S-shaped section situated in the inferior left segment of the stomach.

Diverticulosis is an ordinary state predictable to have an effect on 35 percent to 50 percent of Americans. Its occurrence adds to by means of age, approximately without doubt due to deteriorating of the intestinal walls in excess of moment in time. In the United States, diverticulosis has an effect on a predictable 10 percent of those more than 40 years older and just about 50 percent of those stuck between 60 and 80 years of mature. By means of age 80, the majority Americans will have urbanized diverticulosis.

Prominent anxiety surrounded by the colon is considerate to be an issue in encourages development of diverticula. Eating a low-fiber diet, which produces small, hard stools that require relatively high pressure to evacuate, can raise force. Confirmation of diet's task is that diverticular illness is general in mechanized countryside, together with the United States, wherein low-fiber goes on a diet are widespread. On the other hand, in region anywhere high-fiber go on a diet are inspired, such as a lot of Asian and African countryside, diverticular illness is exceptional.

Patients by means of diverticulosis perhaps symptom-free or they possibly will become conscious of gentle, blinking, wandering off the point warning sign for instance abdominal gentleness, swelling or contraction. As in our mother's case, it is general in favor of the circumstance to become aware of no more than subsequent to a course of action is carried out for one more cause. On rare incident, blood vessels surrounded by diverticula may perhaps come apart, causing bleeding as of the rectum.

Over and over again this bleeding is unimportant and strength of character bring to an end on its own, other than it is a symbol that deserve discussion by means of a general practitioner. Diverticulosis itself does not have need of medical action, but a strong diet so as to contain sufficient filament and liquid ought to be sustained. Even though a high-fiber diet does not turn around diverticulosis, it can assist decrease indication, put off configuration of supplementary diverticula and slow down the growth of diverticulitis.

Frequent Causes for Many Colon Health Problems

2008-05-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

The major causes of colon irritation and poor colon health are many, and sometimes very subtle. The most common are food irritants such as “junk foods” and “food allergens”. Junk foods are foods that do not give nourishment and rob the body of vital minerals and vitamins. It’s not hard to imagine the list: sugar, coffee, chocolate, white flour and alcohol - to name the broad categories. The lesser known, yet very irritating, are the foods we may be allergic to. The most common are: dairy, eggplant, white potatoes, green peppers, tomatoes, strawberries and raw foods.
Loose and frequent bowel movements may be a sign that there is internal irritation, which may be caused by stress! Stress creates acid in the body and acid is a colon irritant. For instance, some people feel that constipation is the only way hemorrhoids are created, but stress and irritants most certainly are major factors too.
So, how do we help our colon? We soothe, alkaline and relax it. A diet high in lightly cooked foods: veggies, brown rice, fish and uncooked oils is the basic diet to soothe and alkaline. Hot water bottles and sit baths are soothing, and meditation techniques further relax and de-stress the entire body. Make sure to breathe and not strain while having a bowel movement; deep long breaths are best.
Supplements can help too. B complex, aloe mucilaginous polysaccharides AMP and probiotics(the good bacteria). The B’s help with alkalinity and cellular stress; the aloe AMP will soothe and heal; and the good cultures return a natural and healthy inner environment for colon health and efficiency.

Nutrition Diverticulosis

2008-05-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

Q: Why are patients with diverticulosis advised to eat more fiber but avoid nuts and seeds?

A: Diverticulosis is a condition in which the colon develops small pouches (diverticula) that bulge outward, apparently from pressure inside the colon resulting from constipation. Most people with diverticulosis never have any discomfort or symptoms. The goal of dietary "dos" and "don'ts" is to avoid complications, such as diverticulitis in which the pouches become painfully inflamed. A high-fiber diet (generally at least 20 to 35 grams a day) is a definite "do" as fiber keeps stool soft and lowers pressure inside the colon so that bowel contents can move through easily. Doctors frequently advise patients with diverticulosis to avoid those foods which could potentially enter and irritate the diverticula, including: nuts; popcorn; sunflower, pumpkin, caraway and sesame seeds; and even fruits and vegetables with seeds. However, no scientific studies support the need for this latter measure. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, eating a high-fiber diet is the only step needed and eliminating specific foods is not necessary. Of course, we all react differently to foods, so if nuts or seeds create symptoms for you, avoid them.

Causes of diverticular disease

2008-05-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

This ailment is more profound in the western culture. It is labeled as the “Western Society Disease” because of their lack of fiber in their daily diet and eating too much refined and processed foods. With this, during bowel movement, their stools needed to be pushed with such high pressures, constipation as they call it, diventricular disease develops in the left colon which over a period forces the mucosa through the muscle wall along with small blood vessels.

Incidence

This was first discovered and studied in 1849, its recognition increased with the development of the barium enema in the early 1900's. The disease was rare then for people running the age of 30 years and above. Right now, thirty-three percent of the western population over the age of 60 and 50 percent of those aged between 80 and 90 years have diverticulosis. Females are more often attacked by this disease than males.

Pathology

With the increase pressure or constipation in the bowel, this is often times with gas and spasms. Diverticula contains a firm spherical pellet of faeces or faecolith which blocks and stays indefinitely in the "pocket". Faecolith is the main cause of irritation and inflammation which, then, leads to an abscess in the wall of the colon. Which in turn can cause acute abdominal infection (peritonitis) or compression of the colon (stricture), or tunnel in going to another organ (fistula) such as bladder, bowel or vagina.

The huge majority of patients suffering from diverticular disease experience no symptoms. For those patients experiencing symptoms such as constipation may be due to spasm or chronic obstruction. It is called symptomatic diverticular disease for that matter. Diverticulitis due to inflammation can vary in degrees. A few days of being unwell with continues pain in the left lower abdomen and fever, to an emergency abdominal situation requiring urgent operation. The disease may be a destruction in progress, leading to a chronic pelvic abscess, a contraction or stricture of the colon or a fistula, discharging infection and gas into the bladder or vagina. Chronic bleeding is uncommon in diverticular disease but occasionally a hemorrhage from the colon may force the patient to be taken to the hospital. Most patients that experience this, the bleeding stops without surgical intervention.

Diverticular disease can promptly be diagnosed by barium enema or endoscopy flexible colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. Difficulty shows in deciding whether uncomplicated diverticular disease is the reason of symptoms. Similar symptoms can be caused by intestine cramp without diverticula. Complications and other related conditions can normally be detected by clinical testing and the above tests. Diverticular disease does not lead to cancer but either disease usually occurs in the left colon. In some patients the aberration of the colon and clinical features can mimic colon cancer and diagnosis can simply be made after removing the irregular intestine.
For patients with asymptomatic or mild disease, a high fibre diet is recommended. A stool laxative or motility medication is usually enough to treat this. When an attack of inflammation occurs a short regimen of antibiotics and a bland diet will usually ease the symptoms in a couple of days.A serious attack will require admission in the hospital. If emergency procedure is needed it will normally need removal of the stricken region of the colon and a colostomy is often recommended. Patients treated electively (non urgent) by medical procedure normally have the diseased region removed without a temporary colostomy. It is really uncommon for a patient to undergo permanent colostomy. Bowel function and general health returns to natural after procedure and recurrence of symptomatic diverticular disease or complications are likely uncommon. Only a tiny amount of patients need postoperative handling compared with the amount of patients who have diverticulosis of the colon.

Diverticulitis diet: What should I eat after an attack?

2008-01-22T15:52:00.000-08:00

Answer

Diverticulitis occurs when small, bulging pouches (diverticula) in your digestive tract become infected and inflamed — causing severe abdominal pain, fever and nausea. Treatment of diverticulitis depends on the severity of your symptoms and whether this is your first attack. Mild cases of diverticulitis can be treated with changes in diet, rest and antibiotics. Severe cases may eventually require surgery to remove the diseased portion of your colon.
During a mild attack of diverticulitis, your doctor may recommend a clear liquid diet or a low-fiber diet. This helps the area of infection to heal.

Foods allowed on a clear-liquid diet include:

Plain water
Fruit juices without pulp
Broth (bouillon or consumme)
Gelatin Popsicles without bits of fruit or fruit pulp
Tea or coffee without cream

Foods allowed on a low-fiber diet include:

Enriched white bread
White rice or plain pasta, noodles or macaroni
Low-fiber cereals
Most raw, canned or cooked fruits without skins, seeds or membranes
Fruit juice with little or no pulp
Canned or well-cooked vegetables without seeds, hulls or skins
Tender meat, poultry and fish
Eggs
Smooth peanut butter
Milk, yogurt or cheese without seeds or nuts
Desserts without seeds or nuts

Once your symptoms improve — often within a few days — you can gradually increase the amount of fiber in your diet. Start by adding about 5 to 15 grams of fiber a day to allow your digestive system to adjust to the higher fiber intake.
To prevent attacks of diverticulitis:

Eat more fiber. High-fiber foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, soften waste and help it pass more quickly through your colon. This reduces pressure within your digestive tract. Aim for 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day. If you have a difficult time consuming this much fiber every day, consider using a fiber supplement, such as psyllium (Metamucil, Nature's Way) or methylcellulose (Citrucel).

Drink plenty of fluids. Fiber works by absorbing water and increasing the soft, bulky waste in your colon. But if you don't drink enough liquid to replace what is absorbed, fiber can be constipating.

Exercise regularly. Exercise promotes normal bowel function and reduces pressure inside your colon, decreasing your chances of forming diverticula.

Diagnosis of Diverticulitis

2007-12-05T12:43:00.000-08:00

The differential diagnosis includes colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, ischemic colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as a number of urological and gynecological processes. Some patients report bleeding from the rectum.
Patients with the above symptoms are commonly studied with a computed tomography, or CT scan. The CT scan is very sensitive (98%) in diagnosing diverticulitis. It may also identify patients with more complicated diverticulitis, such as those with an associated abscess. CT also allows for radiologically guided drainage of associated abscesses, possibly sparing a patient from immediate surgical intervention.
Other studies, such as barium enema and colonoscopy are contraindicated in the acute phase of diverticulitis due to the risk of perforation

Diagnosis of Diverticulosis

2007-11-18T10:19:00.000-08:00

Diverticulosis is often unsuspected and discovered by an x-ray or intestinal examination performed for an unrelated reason. The doctor may see the diverticula through a flexible tube (a colonoscope) that is inserted through the anus. Through this scope, the diverticula may be seen as dark passages leading out of the normal colon wall.
The doctor also may do a barium enema (an x-ray that reveals outpouchings in the walls of the colon). If rectal bleeding occurs, the doctor may take a special x-ray (an angiography). In this procedure, dye is injected into an artery that goes to the colon so that the site of the bleeding problem can be located.

Treatment of Diverticulosis

If the patient has diverticulosis with no symptoms, no treatment is needed. Some doctors advise eating a special high fiber diet, consisting of fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, whole-grain breads, cereals and bran.
Additionally, adding a fiber supplement (such as Metamucil or Hydrocil) to the diet, and avoiding certain foods with small seeds, such as strawberries, raspberries, whole cranberries and nuts is helpful in treating diverticulosis.
Patients experiencing bloating or abdominal pain may benefit from anti-spasmodic drugs, such as Librax, Bentyl, Donnotal and Levsin.
If this condition turns into diverticulitis, bedrest, antibiotics or hospitalization may be needed. The vast majority of patients will recover from diverticulitis without surgery. Sometimes, patients need surgery to drain an abscess that has resulted from a ruptured diverticulum and to remove that portion of the colon. Surgery is reserved for patients with very severe or multiple attacks. In such cases, the involved segment of colon can be removed and the colon can then be rejoined.

Diverticulitis diet: What should I eat?

2007-11-14T07:14:00.000-08:00

Diverticulitis occurs when small, bulging pouches (diverticula) in your digestive tract become infected and inflamed — causing severe abdominal pain, fever and nausea. Treatment of diverticulitis depends on the severity of your symptoms and whether this is your first attack. Mild cases of diverticulitis can be treated with changes in diet, rest and antibiotics. Severe cases may eventually require surgery to remove the diseased portion of your colon.
During a mild attack of diverticulitis, your doctor may recommend a clear liquid diet or a low-fiber diet. This helps the area of infection to heal.

Diverticulitis diet
Foods allowed on a clear-liquid diet include:
Plain water
Fruit juices without pulp
Broth (bouillon or consumme)
Gelatin
Popsicles without bits of fruit or fruit pulp
Tea or coffee without cream
Foods allowed on a low-fiber diet include:
Enriched white bread
White rice or plain pasta, noodles or macaroni
Low-fiber cereals
Most raw, canned or cooked fruits without skins, seeds or membranes
Fruit juice with little or no pulp
Canned or well-cooked vegetables without seeds, hulls or skins
Tender meat, poultry and fish
Eggs
Smooth peanut butter
Milk, yogurt or cheese without seeds or nuts
Desserts without seeds or nuts

Once your symptoms improve — often within a few days — you can gradually increase the amount of fiber in your diet. Start by adding about 5 to 15 grams of fiber a day to allow your digestive system to adjust to the higher fiber intake.

To prevent attacks of diverticulitis:

Eat more fiber. High-fiber foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, soften waste and help it pass more quickly through your colon. This reduces pressure within your digestive tract. Aim for 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day. If you have a difficult time consuming this much fiber every day, consider using a fiber supplement, such as psyllium (Metamucil, Nature's Way) or methylcellulose (Citrucel).
Drink plenty of fluids. Fiber works by absorbing water and increasing the soft, bulky waste in your colon. But if you don't drink enough liquid to replace what is absorbed, fiber can be constipating.

Taking a natural anti-inflammatory like Serovera AMP will help reduce inflammation within the intestin.

Exercise regularly. Exercise promotes normal bowel function and reduces pressure inside your colon, decreasing your chances of forming diverticula.

Diverticula....Diverticulosis....Diverticulitis

2007-11-12T14:29:00.000-08:00

It is not unusual for people over the age of 55/60 to have diverticula....better known as small bulging pouches. They are usually are located in the digestive tract. This is called diverticulosis.
When they become infected or inflamed, it is called diverticulitis.

Diverticula: These are the small pouches that develop when weak spots give way to pressure. The pouches are small at first and grow larger over time.

Diverticulosis: Normally occur in large intestines. Can form anywhere. Includes esphogus, stomach and small intestines. These pouches normally don't cause any problems, you won't know you have them.

Diverticulitis: The inflammation or infection of the pouches normally located in largeintestines. The pain from an attack normally is severe and comes on quickly. It normally feels like appendicitis, except the pain is on the left side.
Sometimes a person will have mild pain which will get worse over time.
Person may also have abdominal tenderness, fever, nausea, and constipationor diarrhea.

Diverticulitis symptoms

2007-11-10T07:14:00.000-08:00

Diverticulitis symptoms, which indicate that pouches have formed in the colon and have become inflamed or infected, can include some or all of the following:
abdominal pain
fever
nausea
vomiting
chills
cramping
constipation
tenderness around the left side of the lower abdomen (most diverticula, or pouches, occur in the left side of the colon because this is where the pressure is highest).
If you have diverticulosis, where the pouches have formed in the intestines but haven't been infected or inflamed, then you may have no symptoms to speak of, or you may have mild cramps, bloating or constipation.
It is important to remember that digestive symptoms such as constipation can be due to many different disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease and Crohn's disease, and so it is important to have your symptoms diagnosed by a medical doctor.

What is diverticulitis

2007-11-04T06:51:00.000-08:00

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.