Those who are at highest risk for diverticulitis are those who do not eat enough fiber in their diet, and do not get enough exercise or drink enough water. When individuals find out that those with a low fiber diet are at risk for diverticulitis they are more likely to want to change they’re eating habits and include more fiber in their meals. To get more fiber you should eat foods that are high in fiber, such as whole grain cereals, rolls and breads. You should eat fruits and vegetables with the skins on, and eat meals at regular times. It is important to chew your food slowly and thoroughly. You should drink lots of liquids, especially water, fruit and vegetable juices, and milk. Your body needs liquids to be able to function properly.

Exercise is an important preventative for many diseases including diverticulitis. Walking, bicycling and swimming are all good exercises we can do everyday to prevent diverticulitis.

Another good way to prevent diverticulitis is to answer the urge to move your bowels the first time to avoid having to strain later on.

If you notice any change in your bowel habits be sure to tell your doctor right away, as this could be a significant symptom in diverticulitis.

Individual can get diverticulitis even after following the above steps to avoid it. That is why it is important to know and understand the symptoms of diverticulitis so that you will know when to seek medical attention and advise. The main symptom of diverticulitis is pain in the lower left portion of your abdomen. Other symptoms are bloating, mild cramping in the lower abdomen, constipation or diarrhea, and signs of infection like fever, nausea or vomiting, and chills. The symptoms will be more severe if the diverticulitis is advanced or complications have occurred. You may suspect diverticulitis if you are aware of the symptoms for diverticulitis and experience the above symptoms. Seek medical attention quickly so that the doctor can run tests to confirm the diagnosis.

The doctor will take a complete medical history including a symptom report that includes bowel habits, symptoms, pain, diet and any medications that you are taking.

The doctor will conduct a physical examination that will include a rectal exam. You may be asked to have a barium enema x-ray, and also a colonoscopy. A complete blood count (CBC) and urinalysis will be ordered too so that the doctor can see if they indicate an infection. All of these tests will give clues to the doctor about what is going on in your body and help to make the diagnosis. It the test results prove that you have diverticulitis a treatment plan will be devised that is based on your symptoms and their severity.

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A diet designed for diverticulitis patients should also focus on drinking plenty of water every day in order to enable the fiber to work its magic. Fiber works by absorbing water and increasing the soft and bulky waste in the colon. If the body does not get enough liquid to replace what is absorbed, fiber has the opposite result and leads to constipation. Until recently, many doctors suggested avoiding foods with small seeds such as tomatoes or strawberries because they believed tat particles could lodge in the diverticula and cause inflammation. Foods such as nuts, popcorn hulls, and sunflower, pumpkin, cucumbers, strawberries, and raspberries, including poppy seeds, are generally considered harmless.

The treatment needed for diverticulitis depends on how bad the symptoms are and whether an infection exists. In general there are a small percentage of people whose condition will move from diverticulosis to diverticulitis. This disease is generally seen in almost half of all Americans over the age of 60, but it is diagnosed to a lesser degree to many who are in their 40’s. The problem seems to increase with age as the weak areas of the colon continue to balloon out and result in pockets. Ballooning is caused by pressure such as exertion when a person is constipated by lack of fiber in their diet or because of certain medications. It has also been attributed to some gallbladder surgeries that have positioned the gall duct to drip directly into the intestines after the gallbladder has been removed.

It is very possible to minimize the effects of the diverticulitis in those who have already developed the condition. Choosing to convert to a diet which is aimed to control diverticulitis later in life can have significant health benefits. The recommended amount of fiber everyone needs to maintain a healthy colon is generally between 20 and 35 grams of fiber every day. Adding foods like baked beans, brown rice, bran, oats, pears, and squash can easily provide the necessary fiber for anyone. There are also many supplemental products that can be ingested which offer a valuable amount of fiber that is part of a diverticulitis diet treatment. For patients who already have developed colon problems, there are also foods that should be restricted from the typical diet in order to avoid problems. This disease can be managed in many ways, diet being one of the easiest.

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