Diverticulitis: All You Need to Know in 6 Photos

Diverticulitis is characterized by small, inflamed pockets on the lining of the intestines. They are mostly in the large intestine, also known as the colon, and they normally occur in people over 40.

Marble-sized pouches called diverticula can form in the colon naturally due to pressure. Diverticulitis occurs when waste becomes trapped in the pouches, allowing infection- and inflammation-causing bacteria to grow.

The most common diverticulitis symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, fever, diarrhea, and constipation. The abdominal pain can last for several days and is usually on the lower left side of the abdomen, but the pain could also occur on the lower right side. If you are experiencing these pains with fever, constipation, or diarrhea, you should talk to your doctor.

The risk factors for diverticulitis are aging, obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, a high fat and low fiber diet, and certain medications such as NSAIDs (ibuprofen and naproxen sodium), opioids, and steroids. Your doctor will help you determine what risk factors could have contributed to your diverticulitis and help you adjust your lifestyle to make sure it doesn’t get worse.

In the past, doctors have warned patients that certain foods that are difficult to digest, such as nuts and seeds, can make diverticulitis worse. However, most researchers now believe that there is very little evidence to support such warnings. 

Most doctors recommend that patients who are currently experiencing diverticulitis symptoms switch to a liquid diet that includes plenty of water, fruit juice, and broth. As the symptoms subside, patients may begin to reincorporate more solid foods. To prevent the condition in the future, it’s best to stick with a diet that is rich in high-fiber foods. Fiber makes the digestive process faster and easier, which reduces the risk of new diverticula forming.

The treatment of diverticulitis normally focuses on helping patients manage their symptoms. This includes the use of pain relievers and antibiotics, as well as dietary restrictions that should be followed until symptoms subside. In extremely rare cases, the condition may lead to further complications in the colon that require surgery. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, around 25% of severe diverticulitis cases could have complications like abscesses caused by pus in the diverticulitis pockets, blockages caused by scar tissue in the intestines, abnormal passageways between the intestines, or even the medical emergency of peritonitis, which is the spilling of intestinal contents into your body cavity caused by a ruptured pocket. These are all very serious and require medical intervention.

When diverticula begin to develop along the colon wall, this is known as diverticulosis. This process causes no symptoms in patients, and in fact, many people don’t even realize it has taken place. When diverticula become infected and begin producing symptoms, the condition is then referred to as diverticulitis. 

You can prevent diverticulitis by reducing the risk factors through lifestyle changes. Eating enough fiber, exercising, quitting smoking, and drinking more water are all great lifestyle changes to make to help prevent diverticulitis. You will also need to be aware of not taking too many NSAIDs, opioids, and steroids. Only take these medications as needed or as directed by your doctor.