How to avoid diverticulitis

Video: What To Avoid with Diverticulitis | Risk Factors & Ways to Reduce Risk

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 3: Preventing diverticulitis
Method 2 of 3: Symptoms of Diverticulitis
Method 3 of 3: Treating diverticulitis
Warnings

Diverticulitis is associated with a bulging of the wall of hollow organs (such as the colon), which forms pouches in the form of pouches (diverticulums). When such a bag becomes inflamed, diverticulitis develops. Although there is no definitive view on the etiology of the disease, it is believed that it is caused by low fiber in the diet. Fortunately, there are certain guidelines for reducing the risk of diverticulitis. If you suspect diverticulitis is developing, read the description of the main symptoms (provided in Method 2). Knowing what to look for, you can diagnose pathology in the early stages so that treatment can begin as early as possible.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Preventing diverticulitis

1 Eat 25-35 grams of fiber daily. Natural fiber is found in various foods and helps facilitate the passage of food through the digestive tract. Due to the presence of fiber, the stool becomes more voluminous, and the intestinal muscles need to strain less to push it, and the load on the intestinal walls decreases. Therefore, less effort reduces the likelihood of diverticulum formation. Some of the fiber-rich foods include:
- Potatoes, pumpkin, spinach and similar vegetables.
- Fruits (prunes, apples, pears and others)
- Legumes (beans, black beans, and others)
- Whole grains (cereals, brown rice, oats, and others)
2 Maintain water balance. The daily water intake differs depending on the person's weight and level of physical activity, but everyone needs to monitor the water balance. Water helps to cleanse the intestines, and if you do not drink enough fluids, constipation can occur, which contributes to the formation of bags on the walls of the intestines.
- The following norms are not universal, but men are better off aiming to take about 3 liters (13 glasses) of water daily, and a woman's daily allowance is about 2.2 liters (9 glasses).
3 Regular exercise. Generally, physical activity encourages regular contractions of the intestinal muscles. This means that the likelihood of constipation is reduced, which in turn reduces the risk of diverticulum formation. Exercise reduces the stagnation of food in the digestive system.
- Aim to exercise for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week. Exercise can include activities such as running or cycling, as well as endurance exercises (rock climbing, weight lifting, and so on).
4 Avoid straining when you want to push through a chair. If you are constipated, do not exert yourself too much. Because of this, particles of excrement can enter pre-existing bags, which will lead to further formation of diverticulums.
- In case of constipation, it is better to consult a doctor about what remedies can soften the stool, as well as what methods will allow you to remove it without much stress.

Method 2 of 3: Symptoms of Diverticulitis

1 See your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms. After discovering several of the symptoms described below, you need to make an appointment with your doctor to see if diverticulitis is developing. The sooner the pathology is detected, the easier and more effective the treatment will be.
2 Pay attention to any abdominal pain. Inflammation of the sacs in the intestinal walls can cause pain. Depending on where the diverticulum forms, pain can be felt on the right or left side of the colon.
3 Write down your feelings. Keep a temperature log when you have a chill or a fever. With a bacterial infection of the diverticulum, the temperature may increase. It is a natural defense mechanism used by the immune system to fight infection.
- When the temperature rises, a person can throw either heat or cold. Do not be surprised if you feel chills as the temperature rises.
- Pay attention to decreased appetite. This could be a response to a gut infection.
4 Look for bloating and gas. When the resulting sacs become infected, the activity of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted. It takes longer to digest food, which causes gas to build up in the intestines.
- Large bloating can be very uncomfortable.
5 Pay attention to diarrhea. Constipation is common with diverticulitis, but in some cases, diarrhea becomes a consequence of infection of the sacs. The process that takes place looks something like this: with pressure on the colon, more water is displaced. Water undigested by the body causes diarrhea.
- Diarrhea dehydrates the body, which can make you feel dizzy.
6 Pay attention to any muscle spasms. With constipation, food puts excessive pressure on the intestinal wall. Under the influence of this pressure, cramping pains in the abdomen can occur, and often muscle spasms are accompanied by pain.
7 Pay attention to bloody spots in your stools. If the lining of the intestine is severely inflamed, the diverticula may bleed and traces of blood may be found in the stool. If you notice traces of blood in your bowel movements, see your doctor.

Method 3 of 3: Treating diverticulitis

1 Talk to your doctor about a liquid diet. If diverticulitis is detected early, a liquid diet makes it easier to bowel movements so that internal organs can heal. After the symptoms disappear, you can return to a dense diet.
- In the most difficult cases, intravenous nutrition is required and you will have to stay in the hospital until the intestines heal. Intravenous food contains sufficient carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins, fats, and minerals to replace a normal diet.
2 Antibiotic injections. Antibiotics will stop inflammation by clearing bacteria from the diverticula. In such cases, ciprofloxacin is often prescribed.
- Usually, 200-400 milligrams (mg) of ciprofloxacin is given per day (twice a day), but the dosage may vary depending on the degree of inflammation.
3 Take pain relievers. If diverticulitis is causing severe pain, talk with your doctor about taking acetaminophen (paracetamol). You can also take mesalazine for abdominal pain.
- For muscle spasms, specific medications (such as butylskopalomin) are prescribed. Take these medicines as directed by your doctor.
4 If all else fails, consider surgery. Several acute episodes of diverticulitis may warrant surgical removal of damaged areas of the colon. After your surgery, you will be transferred to intravenous nutrition for about 1 month.
- Such operations are performed under general anesthesia.