Diverticulosis

                                     How the Colon Works

Colon is the organ responsible for the final step in digesting food. It receives partly digested liquid stool
from the small bowel, dehydrates it and delivers it to the rectum for evacuation. Colon is a hollow tube
that begins at the appendix, located next to the right hip bone, and ends at the rectum. This hollow tube
is composed of two layers. The inner layer has cells that are specialized for absorbing fluid and
dehydrating stool. When these cells malfunction diarrhea is the end result. When one is dehydrated these
cells work overtime to return fluids to the body and constipation ensues.
The outer layer of the colon (tube) is muscle. This muscle contracts and relaxes periodically and acts to
push the stool along in the colon. Malfunction of this muscle group can also lead to diarrhea and
constipation. Under normal circumstances the inner layer of the tube is completely contained inside the
outer layer of the tube. Under certain conditions the outer muscle layer weakens and can no longer
contain the inner portion of the tube. These areas of weakness allow portions of the inner tube to push
through and form “outpouchings” in the colon. The medical terminology for these outpouchings is
“diverticulosis”.

                                          Diverticulosis vs. Diverticulitis

A large proportion of individuals in the United States who are otherwise healthy and without any symptoms
will have these outpouchings called “diverticulosis” on examination. A majority of people with diverticulosis
will never have any associated problems. Symptoms arise when stool is impacted in these outpouchings
causing perforations in the wall of the inner tube leading to minor or major infections, a condition referred
to as “diverticluitis”. Alternatively, due to individual characteristics these outpouchings may cause bleeding
in susceptible individuals.

What Causes Diverticulosis
In general any condition that causes long standing constipation, increased pressure inside the abdomen or
muscular de-conditioning leads to diverticulosis
•        Straining to have a bowel movement
•        Chronic cough
•        Dehydration
•        Chronic gas
•        Diets with low transit time in the bowel. Typically these are low fiber diets with high meat/fat
content.

                          How to avoid Diverticulosis and Its
Complications
•        Avoid dehydration
•        Avoid constipation
•        Quit smoking or seek treatment for chronic cough
•        Dietary modification
•        Eat at regular times.
•        Try to have a bowel movement at the same time each day.
•        Don't strain.
•        Don't put off having a bowel movement when you have the urge. Doing so may make
the                      stools                 drier          and harder, which may make you strain
more.
•        Eat a high-fiber diet.
•        Get regular exercise.
Avoid taking medications that slow the activity of the intestines. These include:
•        painkillers containing narcotics
•        antidepressants
•        Some blood pressure (calcium channel blockers).
•        Calcium supplements
•        Blood thinners, aspirin and anti-inflammatory medication increase the risk of bleeding from
diverticuli.

Good Foods	Bad Foods
Fresh Fruits: apples, pears, peaches, papayas, mango’s,	Heavy, difficult to digest foods such as meats
whole wheat bread	peanuts
brown rice	white rice
natural digestive aids such as peppermint, ginger, basil	Seeds, nuts and fruits containing small seeds that may lodge in diverticuli
Fresh vegetables: rhubarb, psyllium, senna leaves, alfalfa, broccoli, asparagus	Vegetables that may promote gas production in the colon such as beans, peas, cabbages, cucumbers and tomatoes
6-8 glasses of water, fresh juices, herbal decaffeinated teas per day	Very sweet and or caffeinated foods that may promote dehydration
Aloe vera gel, oil of peppermint capsules	Corn, popcorn