It is estimated that about 50 percent of people over the age of 60 have diverticular disease. Many people have heard the name, but many are unsure of what it is because many who have it do not suffer from any symptoms.
Diverticular disease, also called diverticulosis, is characterized by pouches forming in the colon, and is usually caused by a low-fiber diet. Individuals on low-fiber diets are more prone to constipation, which can cause increased colon pressure during a bowel movement and may lead to weakening of the colon wall and eventually form pouches, called diverticula.
Food can back up into the diverticula in the colon, and bacteria can begin to thrive there, leading to infection. When these pockets, or diverticula, in the wall of the colon become inflamed or infected, this is a specific type of diverticular infection called diverticulitis.
Although most people with diverticulosis never develop diverticulitis, it is more common in people as they grow older, and symptoms should not be overlooked, as surgery may be necessary for proper treatment. Common symptoms of diverticulitis include the following:
- Pain on lower left side of the abdomen
- Stomach pain
- Fever
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Cramping
- Rectal Bleeding
If diverticulitis is identified by your physician, this infection can usually be treated and cured by antibiotics, such as Cipro or Levaquin. There are times, however, where surgery is required to remove the affected part of the colon and rejoin two healthy sections. With the portion of the colon with diverticula gone, a patient can more easily avoid other infections in the future.
If you are living with diverticulosis or have suffered from infection stemming from this bowel disease, changing your diet could be the simplest and most beneficial course of action. High-fiber diets can ensure easier bowel movements, cleaner and healthier intestinal tracts, and a reduction in the incidence of diverticula forming.
The following are foods recommended to increase your daily intake of fiber:
- Fruit: Raw apples, peaches, pears, and tangerines.
- Vegetables: Fresh broccoli, squash, carrots, and Brussels sprouts.
- Starchy vegetables: Potatoes, baked beans, kidney beans, and lima beans.
- Grains: Whole-wheat bread, brown rice, bran-flake cereal, and oatmeal.
If diet alone is not enough, or sticking to a diet plan like the Mediterranean one (including nuts, whole grains, olive oil, fruits, vegetables, unrefined cereals, high consumption of legumes, moderate to high consumption of fish, moderate consumption of cheese and yogurt) proves too difficult, consult your doctor about taking fiber supplements like Metamucil. Any combination of these can help reduce diverticular disease and symptoms.
Dr. David Samadi is the chairman of the urology department and chief of robotic surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital. He is a medical correspondent for the Fox News Channel’s Medical A-Team. Learn more at RoboticOncology.com and visit Dr. Samadi’s blog: SamadiMD.com. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
