If you have diverticula that don't give you any problems, you probably won't be offered any treatment. This is because you're unlikely to get ill.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Stollman N, Raskin J.
Diverticular disease of the colon.
Lancet. 2004; 363: 631-639.

 

 

 

 

 

¹

Diverticula don't go away, but many doctors think that you can stop more diverticula from forming and stay well by eating more fiber.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Bontemps E, Pardoll PM.
Diverticular disease of the colon.
Available at: http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/gihealth/diverticular.asp (accessed on 26 September 2007).

 

 

 

 

 

²

Fiber is the part of fruits, vegetables and grains that your body doesn't digest. When you don't eat enough fiber, you can get

 

 

 

 

 

constipated
When you're constipated, you have difficulty passing stools (feces). Your bowel movements may be dry and hard. You may have fewer bowel movements than usual, and it may be a strain when you try to go.

 

 

 

 

 

constipated, with hard stools that are difficult to pass. Doctors think than when you strain to pass these hard stools, the pressure in your

 

 

 

 

 

colon
Your colon is the first 2 metres (6 feet) of your large intestine. During digestion, food travels from your stomach to your small intestine and then to your large intestine. What's not digested then leaves your body as a bowel movement.

 

 

 

 

 

colon causes diverticula.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis.
October 2005. Available at http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov (accessed on 26 September 2007).

 

 

 

 

 

³

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Mayo Clinic.
Diverticulitis.
May 2005. Available at http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/diverticulitis/DS00070 (accessed on 26 September 2007).

 

 

 

 

 

⁴ High-fiber foods make the stools softer and easier to pass through your colon. This reduces the pressure inside your colon.

Doctors think that fiber from fruit and vegetables may be better at preventing diverticula than fiber from cereals.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Chia JG, Wilde CC, Ngoi SS, et al.
Trends of diverticular disease of the large bowel in a newly developed country.
Diseases of the Colon and Rectum. 1991; 34: 498-501.

 

 

 

 

 

⁵ Some doctors advise people who have diverticula but no symptoms to eat more fruit and vegetables high in fiber.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Levi DM, Levi JU, Rogers AI, et al.
Giant colonic diverticulum: an unusual manifestation of a common disease.
American Journal of Gastroenterology. 1993; 88: 139-142.

 

 

 

 

 

⁶ These include:

It's best to increase the amount of fiber you eat gradually over a few weeks. Some people who eat more fiber feel worse before they start to feel better. This is because eating more fiber can make you feel bloated and uncomfortable at first.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis.
October 2005. Available at http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov (accessed on 26 September 2007).

 

 

 

 

 

³

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Mayo Clinic.
Diverticulitis.
May 2005. Available at http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/diverticulitis/DS00070 (accessed on 26 September 2007).

 

 

 

 

 

⁴ Your doctor may suggest you take a fiber supplement or bulking agent (a

 

 

 

 

 

laxative
A laxative is a kind of medicine you can buy over the counter. Laxatives empty your bowels by making you go to the bathroom often.

 

 

 

 

 

laxative) such as bran, ispaghula husk or methylcellulose, especially if you find it difficult to eat lots of fiber.

Some doctors also think that exercise, such as jogging and running, also may stop you from getting diverticular disease. But there isn't any evidence in the research for this.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Aldoori WH, Giovannucci EL, Rimm EB et al.
Prospective study of physical activity and the risk of symptomatic Diverticular disease in men.
Gut. 1995; 36: 276-282.

 

 

 

 

 

⁷

You can take painkillers to help with your abdominal pain. Acetaminophen is probably best. You shouldn't take codeine because it can cause

 

 

 

 

 

constipated
When you're constipated, you have difficulty passing stools (feces). Your bowel movements may be dry and hard. You may have fewer bowel movements than usual, and it may be a strain when you try to go.

 

 

 

 

 

constipation. And taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, may increase the chances of bleeding in your diverticula.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Stollman NH, Raskin JB.
Diagnosis and management of diverticular disease of the colon in adults.
American Journal of Gastroenterology. 1999; 94: 3110-3121.

 

 

 

 

 

⁸

If one or more of your diverticula become

 

 

 

 

 

inflammation
If your skin or some other part of your body becomes red, swollen, hot or sore, we say it is inflamed. It means that your body is trying to protect you from germs, from something in your body tissues that can hurt you (like a thorn or sliver), or from things that cause allergies (allergens). Inflammation is part of the way the body heals an infection or injury.

 

 

 

 

 

inflamed or

 

 

 

 

 

infection
You get an infection when viruses, bacteria, fungi or other tiny organisms get into your body. These bugs are so tiny that you can't see them without a microscope. For example, an infection in your airways causes the common cold. And an infection in your skin can cause rashes such as athlete's foot.

 

 

 

 

 

infected (when it's called diverticulitis) but you don't feel too sick, your doctor will probably look after you while you're at home. You'll probably be treated with

 

 

 

 

 

antibiotics
These medications are used to help your immune system fight infection. There are a number of different types of antibiotics that work in different ways to get rid of bacteria, parasites and other infectious agents. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.

 

 

 

 

 

antibiotics to fight the infection. And you’ll be put on a liquid diet to rest your colon.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Salzman H, Lillie D.
Diverticular disease: diagnosis and treatment.
American Family Physician. 2005; 72: 1229-1234.

 

 

 

 

 

⁹

You may need to be looked after in the hospital if:

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Salzman H, Lillie D.
Diverticular disease: diagnosis and treatment.
American Family Physician. 2005; 72: 1229-1234.

 

 

 

 

 

⁹

In the hospital, you’ll probably be given fluids and antibiotics by injection into one of your

 

 

 

 

 

veins
Veins are blood vessels that carry blood back to your heart after your blood has delivered oxygen and food to the tissues.

 

 

 

 

 

veins. Most people treated in the hospital for diverticulitis get better with this kind of care. But 15 in 100 to 30 in 100 people need an operation to remove the affected part of their colon. This is sometimes because the antibiotics haven't worked or because of complication.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Ferzoco LB, Raptopoulos V, Silen W.
Acute diverticulitis.
New England Journal of Medicine. 1998; 338: 1521-1526.

 

 

 

 

 

¹⁰

About two-thirds of people who have had diverticulitis keep getting some pain in their abdomen after they have recovered.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Munson KD, Hensien MA, Jacob LN, et al.
Diverticulitis: a comprehensive follow-up.
Diseases of the Colon and Rectum. 1996; 39: 318-322.

 

 

 

 

 

¹¹ Up to 40 in 100 people have another attack of diverticulitis within the next five years.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Haglund U, Hellberg R, Johnsen C, et al.
Complicated diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon: an analysis of short and long term outcome in 392 patients.
Annales Chirurgiae et Gynaecologiae. 1979; 68: 41-46.

 

 

 

 

 

¹²

Here are the main complications you can get with diverticulitis.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis.
October 2005. Available at http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov (accessed on 26 September 2007).

 

 

 

 

 

³

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Mayo Clinic.
Diverticulitis.
May 2005. Available at http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/diverticulitis/DS00070 (accessed on 26 September 2007).

 

 

 

 

 

⁴

About one-third of people who have had an attack of diverticulitis, and don't get complications, get a second attack.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Stollman N, Raskin J.
Diverticular disease of the colon.
Lancet. 2004; 363: 631-639.

 

 

 

 

 

¹ A second attack is usually more serious than the first and it's harder to treat. After a second attack, your chance of a third one is more than 1 in 2.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Salzman H, Lillie D.
Diverticular disease: diagnosis and treatment.
American Family Physician. 2005; 72: 1229-1234.

 

 

 

 

 

⁹

Because of this increased risk, some doctors recommend that people who've had two attacks of diverticulitis should have an operation to remove the diseased part of their colon.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Stollman N, Raskin J.
Diverticular disease of the colon.
Lancet. 2004; 363: 631-639.

 

 

 

 

 

¹ The younger you are, the more likely you are to be offered an operation. This is because diverticulitis tends to be more serious in younger people, with a higher risk of repeat attacks and complications.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Stollman N, Raskin J.
Diverticular disease of the colon.
Lancet. 2004; 363: 631-639.

 

 

 

 

 

¹ To learn more, see Surgery to remove part of your colon.

The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional. The information is meant to enhance communication with your doctor, not replace it. Consumers Union can not be liable for any loss, injury, or other damages related to your use of this information.

Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.