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8 Ways Colon Cleansing Helps Diverticular Disease

If you have diverticular disease, you're surely wondering how colon cleansing can help your condition. Here are just eight ways that participating in regular colon cleansing will help you:

1. Gets rid of accumulated toxins that can be stored in diverticuli
2. Flushes the intestinal walls of harmful bacteria and yeast
3. Keeps the diverticuli from becoming swollen and infected
4. Helps to relieve constipation
5. Strengthens your intestinal wall to keep it from thinning or weakening
6. Decrease bowel transit time
7. Helps to restore proper bowel function
8. Encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria

What are you waiting for? Start cleansing now!

Picture Credit: (BBC News)

Diverticular Disease: How Do I Know if I Have it?

First, it's important to understand the symptoms of diverticular disease.

When it comes to diverticulosis (the condition of having diverticula), many people experience no symptoms at all. Others experience mild cramps, bloating and constipation.

With regards to diverticulitis (the presence of irritated diverticula), there are many more symptoms. This condition is characterized by cramping, constipation, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, chills and nausea. That doesn't sound like fun at all.

As you can see, these symptoms can be attributed to many other disorders. Because of this, it can be difficult to diagnose diverticular disease. In order to make a prognosis, a doctor will first ask about your medical history, diet, bowel habits, and other factors of your health. Then you may have to undergo a digital rectal examination, CT scan, ultrasound, x-ray, sigmoidoscopy and/or colonoscopy.

It's important to see a physician if you feel like you may be affected with diverticular disease, as it can progress to a more serious condition if it is not treated.

Picture Credit: (GESA)

Diverticular Disease: The Basics

As we grow older, our intestinal lining becomes thin, losing strength and elasticity. Diverticula (small pouches of tissue) bulge through the weak areas of your intestinal lining. About 1/3 of all American adults have at least a couple of diverticula. This is called Diverticulosis.

This isn't that big of a deal. BUT--

In about 1/5 of people with diverticulosis, the diverticula become irritated or infected. This is referred to as Diverticulitis.

According to an article in Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal, diverticular disease accounts for over a million hospital and doctor's visits in the United States.

That got your attention, didn't it? Check back tomorrow for common symptoms of diverticular disease.

Picture Credit: (Bupa)

Treating Pesky Diverticulitis

If you’ve been diagnosed with diverticulitis, you’re undoubtedly wondering:  what next?  Treatment depends greatly upon your symptoms.

If you are experiencing mild pain, have no signs of complications, and can drink liquids, you’ll most likely have to:

• Take a medication such as pain relievers and/or antibiotics.
• Alter your diet with a bland, low-fiber diet until the pain subsides.
  

If you are experiencing severe pain, have complications, or aren’t able to drink liquids, you’ll have to be hospitalized and:

• Receive an antibiotic IV.
• Receive nutrition and fluids via IV.
• Very rarely, you may have to have surgery.
• Keep your stomach empty.

You’ll also need to participate in ongoing treatment for the condition, which includes:

• Drinking plenty of fluids.
• Gradually increasing the amount of fiber in your diet.
• Regularly visit your doctor to regulate your condition.

So don’t lose hope!  You can treat your diverticulitis and not let it bother your day to day life.

Test Me for Diverticulitis

There is a wide variety of tests and screenings that can be used to determine if you have diverticulitis.  Which tests and how many tests your doctor recommends depends upon your symptoms.

These are some routine tests that are performed any time you go to your doctor because of abdominal pain:

• Urinalysis checks for a urinary tract infection.
• Complete blood count can show if you have an infection of not enough red blood cells due to bleeding in your colon.
• Abdominal X-ray
• Fecal occult blood test looks for blood in your stools.
• Digital rectal exam looks for a mass or tenderness in your lower pelvic area.

The following tests are done depending totally on the symptoms you are experiencing:

·         Barium enema X-ray

·         Computed tomography (CT) scan checks to see if a diverticulum has burst or if you have a pocket of abscess in your abdomen.

·         Colonoscopy or flexible digmoidoscopy

·         Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy checks out your stomach and upper part of your small intestine.

·         Upper gastrointestinal series checks out your stomach and small intestine.

If you are experiencing diverticular bleeding, then your doctor will likely want to perform a technetium-labeled red blood cell bleeding scan or angiogram.

I know—these are a lot of tests and screenings to worry about!  But the sooner you know why you are experiencing these symptoms, the sooner you can try to ease them!

The (Not Proven) Cause and (Proven) Symptoms of Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is one of the three diverticular diseases that I have mentioned briefly in my trusty blog.  But what’s the deal?  Why do some people develop diverticulitis and others don’t?

 

The unfortunate answer:  no one’s sure.  Diverticulitis occurs when bacteria is trapped in diverticula, pockets that form on the colon wall.  The bacteria grow, causing inflammation and pressure.  But no one knows exactly why these diverticula form in the first place.  Some researchers believe that it stems to a high amount of pressure pushing against weak spots in the colon wall, most of the time caused by constipation or a lack of fiber in the diet.

If you think you may have diverticulitis, check for these symptoms:

• Fever and chills
• Abdominal pain that may be worse when you move
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Gas or bloating
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting
  

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, be sure to make an appointment with your physician to get checked out and nip this disease in the bud!

The Low-Down on Diverticulosis

Diverticulosis is one of the three diverticular diseases.  It’s associated with diverticula, or pouches that form in the colon.  No one knows exactly why these pockets are developed, but there are some theories.

Some doctors believe that diverticula develop when high pressure is applied against weak spots in the colon wall.  This type of thing happens when your diet is low in fiber and your colon needs to exert excess pressure to move small, hard stools.

Unfortunately, most people don’t have symptoms for diverticulosis—if you find out you have the condition, it’s likely that you’ve had it for some time.  However, there are symptoms for painful diverticular disease including cramping abdominal pain and diarrhea—just like the symptoms of IBS.

Tests such as colonoscopies and barium enema X-rays often diagnose diverticulosis.

If you are diagnosed with the condition, you’ll be pushed by your doctor to eat a high-fiber diet and to drink a good amount of water.  This will help to prevent constipation so that your condition is not worsened.

Do you have any personal experience with diverticulosis?

Have Diverticulitis? Read This!

If you’ve been diagnosed with diverticulitis, then there are several signs that you need to be on the look-out for.  If you or someone you’re with experiences any of the following, stop whatever you are doing and call 911!

• Signs of shock
• Anal bleeding

 If you are experiencing pain in the abdomen that is centralized to one area and any of the following, call your physician immediately:

• Nausea/vomiting

• Unusual changes in your bowel movements
• Fever or chills
• Abdominal swelling
• Pain that worsens when you move
• Blood in your stools
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Burning during urination
  

If any of the following occur, call your physician:

• Shoulder pain (could be from air in the abdomen because of a hole in the intestine)
• Severe abdominal pain that is getting worse
• A stool that’s mostly blood
• Abdominal pain that worsens when you cough or move
• Pass a stool or gas from your urethra while urinating
• Have cramping that doesn’t improve after passing gas or a stool
  

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The Three Conditions of Diverticular Disease

Throughout my research, I come across various articles about diverticular disease, but I have to admit that I have no idea what it is!  So I decided to sit down and do some serious research and share with all of you what I have found out.

 

Diverticular disease revolves around three different conditions having to do with pockets or small sacs in the colon wall.  These conditions are:

 

1. Diverticulosis

This is the actual formation of the small pockets on the bowel’s lining.  These pockets are called diverticula and are developed due to pressure on weakened spots of your colon wall caused by waste, liquid or gas.  Gross, right? 

 

Diverticulosis is very common, and complications arise in only 20% of those who have diverticulosis.  Complications can include diverticular infection and rectal bleeding.

 

2. Diverticular bleeding

This happens when chronic injury occurs to the small blood vessels that are located next to the diverticula.

 

3. Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis happens when there’s infection and inflammation in diverticula.  This infection usually occurs when the diverticula becomes blocked with waste (ew!) and bacteria builds up, causing infection.

 

Want to know what I’m up to?  Check me out at www.twitter.com/colonista