Your colon is a part of your large intestine. When pouches in the colon called diverticula become infected or inflamed, you have diverticulitis. This condition can be very painful, and is thought to be the result of a diet that is too low in fiber.
What does fiber have to do with it? In a healthy digestive system, fiber adds bulk to the waste that moves through your intestines. Without enough fiber in the system, your colon must use more pressure than normal to move things through your intestines. This pressure can cause the formation of the pouches in the weak spots along the walls of the colon.
Many people already have these pouches in their colon, but may not ever develop diverticulitis. This is known as diverticulosis.
The symptoms you feel if you have diverticulitis will depend on how severe the inflammation or infection is; symptoms may last for a few hours or a few days. The most common symptom is pain, tenderness, or cramping, often in the lower left part of the abdomen. However, you may also experience nausea and vomiting, bloating and gas, constipation or diarrhea, chills, fever, or other signs of infection.
Your doctor may use a blood test to determine whether or not you have an infection. Imaging studies like a barium enema x-ray, abdominal ultrasound, or colonoscopy will also help your doctor make a diagnosis. Diverticulitis shares many symptoms with other conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and urinary tract infections. Only your doctor can help you determine what your symptoms really mean.
Most of the time, diverticulitis is treated with dietary changes; your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics if there is an infection along with the inflammation. Approximately twenty-five percent of people with diverticulitis have other complications, like an abscess, fistula (abnormal opening), or obstruction that may require surgery to repair.
Your chance of developing diverticulitis increases as you age. If you eat a low fiber diet or are a smoker, your chances increase even more. You can help your body prevent diverticulitis by eating a high fiber diet, drinking plenty of water, and exercising regularly.