Diverticulitis: Main Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
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The human digestive system is one of the most sensitive parts of the body. As it is a series of organs that are responsible for digesting everything we eat and drink, it is also one of the most affected by the external environment, even though it is inside our body, since we often have not very good eating habits. . And because this system is so sensitive, some diseases end up appearing without us knowing what they are, such as diverticulitis.
The diverticulitis is a problem that can be harmful and affects a considerable number of people every year. But why does this type of disease appear exactly, you know?
It is not uncommon to hear about several diseases that affect this system such as gastritis, constipation, ulcers, not to mention the most serious ones, such as intestinal colon cancer, for example. Knowing this, it is normal to worry about these diseases and want to know more about how to prevent ourselves.
Of course, food often has a direct connection with the onset of this type of disease and also speaking of diverticulitis in particular. But with all the hustle and bustle that today’s life gives us, many people end up not even realizing what is missing in their food, which makes many only realize the disease when it is really bothering them.
What is Diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis is nothing more than an inflammation in the inner part of our intestines , characterized by small pockets that form and become infected inside, called diverticula. Although these small pockets may be present in different parts of the digestive system, it is in the intense bulk where they appear most commonly.
Diverticulitis usually occurs in adults over 40 and in people who have constant constipation problems. The diverticula are harmless by themselves , ie if they are not infected or inflamed and may even go undetected throughout a person ‘s life.
WARNING: Do not confuse diverticulitis with diverticulosis or diverticula. These are three very close words, but with different meanings, especially with regard to the danger they offer to our bodies.
Main Causes of Diverticulitis
It is not possible to state that there is any specific cause for diverticulitis, but it is common knowledge that some factors can increase the risk of inflammation of the diverticula. Some of these factors are:
- Age – People over 40 usually suffer more from this type of problem.
- The Power – People who eat too much fat or have a poor diet high in fiber tend to suffer more from the infection of diverticula.
- Obesity – Overweight people can also develop this type of problem more easily.
- Lack of physical exercise.
- Smoking.
When talking about food, we must remember that the lack of fiber makes people’s feces end up being very hard, which forces the intestine more and, consequently, increases the chances of an infection occurring in the place.
Symptoms of Diverticulitis
In its initial phase, the disease does not show many symptoms, only making the person feel swollen and also feel cramping, especially in the lower abdomen. Still, the main symptoms are only felt when the inflammation is greater . These symptoms are:
- Fever
- Gases
- Swelling
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
Symptoms can suddenly appear and get worse as the days go by, so it is important that diverticulosis is treated as soon as possible, so that the symptoms are relieved and the inflammation in the diverticula does not get worse.
Treatment of Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is curable, that is, there are ways for the inflammation in the diverticula to end. However, there is still no way to completely eliminate diverticula from a person’s intestines, which means that there is always a risk that other inflammations and infections will occur.
The treatment of the disease is usually done with the use of antibiotics to control the infection, which lasts about 10 days and also with the use of painkillers mainly to relieve symptoms such as nausea, fever and pain.
The doctor will also usually recommend a high-fiber diet to follow so that treatment is complete. There are more serious cases such as when there is intestinal obstruction, for example, in which surgery is necessary for diverticulitis to be properly treated. Although it seems scary, these cases are very rare and only happen when the disease is already at a very advanced stage.
How to Prevent Diverticulitis?
The main way to prevent diverticulitis is, without a doubt, food . Having a balanced diet rich in fiber usually helps people not to develop diverticula and, consequently, not to ignite them. Not smoking and exercising also help, as these are things that can contribute to inflammation.
It is not uncommon to have to deal with diseases of the digestive system such as diverticulitis and, despite being a disease that can be bothersome and bring several negative consequences for the person, diverticulitis has a cure and treatment.
In addition, the most important thing is to know that there is a way to prevent this type of disease from affecting your life and that you do not have to deal with this type of situation. So even with all the hustle and bustle of tasks that we need to perform every day, it is very important that we have a healthy diet and that helps us not have to deal with diverticulitis or diseases of this type.
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My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.